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]

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.

[billowing]

Out of nowhere, he gently kicks Wei Ying's foot in the middle of the dance to trip him, and catches him in a dip.

This is apparently a legitimate move.

[scaredofdogs]

He lets out a soft but surprised sound as his let is kicked out, at first thinking it is a dirty move but then realizing it is just a move. He holds on as he gets dipped, staring up at the other with an impressed glint to his eyes.

"Nice moves, Lan Zhan."

[billowing]

He picks Wei Ying back up with ease and continues on the steps to the beat of the music, right where they left off. Once he gets the hang of the mechanics of the dance, he moves Wei Ying backwards, steps into his space in such a way that causes the momentum of his feet to swing out in arcs backwards, as if they're tracing patterns of skipping stones in water.

[scaredofdogs]

The steps become more complex, either because that is the style of the dance or because Lan Wangji is gaining confidence. Either way, Wei Wuxian blends with it, amazed by just how fluid they can be despite such a close proximity. There is no room for error in the way they must flow together.

[billowing]

No, if they mess up the flow, they will become an avalanche instead of a river. But it's easy to move with Wei Ying, when they'd fought before, and had been in lockstep in that way. Even if this isn't the one he'd fought, it feels the same.

[scaredofdogs]

Wei Wuxian doesn't want the dance to end. Even as breaths become shorter from the exertion, the feeling of the dance is too exciting and enjoyable and he never wants to let go. He doesn't care about any other dances as long as he can enjoy this one to the fullest extent. Never would he have thought that the two of them would compliment each other so nicely in something like this. A battle of the bodies where no one actually gets hurt.

[billowing]

It's definitely preferable to one where they do get hurt, so he keeps up the footwork; there's little by way of the upper half except to guide, and that's less dance, really, and more intuition.

Even when the song ends, he keeps going, guiding them around in a circle, and then, around the other way, just to see the effect it has on Wei Ying's ponytail swish.

[scaredofdogs]

As the song ends and he gets twirled around still he starts to laugh. Not sure why Lan Wangji is moving them in such a way. The heavy ponytail still manages to swish easily with the movements, his head unconsciously tilting slightly either way with it.

"Lan Zhan..what are you doing?"

[billowing]

"Watching for movement," he answers, reaching up with one hand to run his fingers through Wei Ying's hair.

Surely he can feel, with how heavy his ponytail is, how it moves to and fro.

[scaredofdogs]

"You like my pony tail, don't you Lan Zhan?" He remembers when the man put his own hair up into one to match. And how he had braided Wei Wuxian's hair with the ribbon when the hotel was so hot.

He certainly does notice when it moves, and he likes the feeling of it when it swings around as they dance. He has too much hair to really wear it down but he can't stand the thought of cutting any of it off either.

[billowing]

Lan Wangji has, of course, not cut any of his own hair, as is customary to do for any of them. Wei Ying, of course, has been blessed with some of the thickest, longest strands of hair known to the Cultivation world.

He gives a strand a gentle tug, and finally stops the dance.

[scaredofdogs]

With a smile he rests his chin against Lan Wangji's chest and looks up at him. He can hear the instructors singing their praises over their performance but he doesn't really care.

"Now that one was fun." Much better then the fox trot. He relaxes against him as he enjoys the other man playing with his hair.

[billowing]

He also isn't paying attention to anything the instructors say. "Mm. Perhaps we can try that one again. At the wedding."

The instructors see how awkward it is trying to get their attention, and start dispersing and cleaning up.

[scaredofdogs]

"I would like that. You'll save me at least that one dance?" Certainly they will be allowed to dance with other people if they want to. And he wants to be able to dance with Lan Wangji again.

[billowing]

"Of course," he replies, brushing the back of his arm. "It is your wedding as well."

[scaredofdogs]

He turns his head to rest his cheek against his chest, "Are we going to remember it or will we practice it some more before then?"

[billowing]

"I will remember," he says. "Will Wei Ying need to practice?"

[scaredofdogs]

"I'll probably remember but that doesn't mean I won't try to use the excuse that I will forget just so I can get to dance with you again." He smiles playfully as he draws circles on Lan Wangji's chest with his index finger.

[billowing]

Wangji takes his hand and stays it at his chest, mostly so he doesn't move it any more than he does.

"This is not part of the dance," he answers.

[scaredofdogs]

"See I already forgot the dance! I'll have to relearn it all." He could easily claim that his memory isn't very good and so that he could forget the dance as soon as they leave the room. But it would all be a lie. He very clearly remembers every second of that dance and how it felt. Precious memories with Lan Wangji are ones he is determined to remember every little detail about.