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

[scaredofdogs]

We haven't quite figured it out..but I think drinking them is like a drug to them. It's one of the questions we keep wanting to ask but can't seem to get a straight answer on.

[They extracted their powers so it isn't hard to believe they also can extract emotions. Why anyone would want to drink sadness or anger..is beyond him.]

[blessmefather]

No public shame in drinking the tea either?

[ He has to wonder- it's a different culture and an unfamiliar drug. ]

[scaredofdogs]

It is definitely encouraged. The hotel serves emotional teas all the time. And the Queen gives us power teas as gifts. So they want us to drink them. Or perhaps save them for instances like this when we can trade them.

[blessmefather]

As widely loved as alcohol then.

[ He sighs. High demand. Doesn't sound like something the locals will give up easily. ]

Power teas? What are those for? Energy?

[scaredofdogs]

Basically anyone who has any sort of ability, loses it when they arrive. And occasionally the queen will give us teas that are one of those powers. Sometimes it is our own that we get back, but more often it is someone else.

[Those are more fun then emotion teas.]

[blessmefather]

[ Ability? Power? ]

You mean a power that not all humans have? A super power? Those are in teas too?

[ That's why. If his senses are in tea then- Oh God. Matt purses his lips and tries to look calm. ]

Are the teas labeled?

[scaredofdogs]

Usually at least with the name of the power. Sometimes I've been able to guess who it belongs to and return it to them when I get it. They obviously know how to use it better then I would.

[And he has been given a lot by the queen..he definitely doesn't need all of them.]

[blessmefather]

Do most of the people who were kidnapped have powers? It sounds like there are several.

[ He tries to wait to ask another question but that comment about knowing how to use it better has him worrying more. ]

-Drinking the tea doesn't teach you how to use the power, does it?

[scaredofdogs]

So far everyone I have talked to seems to have something special that they can do. Do you have some powers?

[He considers his past experiences with the power teas.]

I can't say I knew right away how to use the powers..it took a little trial and error to get things right at first or to really understand what the purpose of them was. Some were easier then others.

[blessmefather]

[ In Matt's world special abilities were rare; his teacher had repeatedly warned him against being discovered by the public for risk he'd be dragged away by the government or seen in a bad light by the public. The government had gone a step further in recent years and demanded the disclosure and registration of such powers, all the more reason to keep his secret.

The rarity made the subject unusual and his blindness did the rest when he used his talents out in the open. Nobody simply asked him if he had powers like that. Ever.

Matt stammers, reaching for his glasses to push them up his nose. ]

Tha- That's unfortunate, that the drinker doesn't know how to use the power immediately. Some abilities are difficult to control or dangerous.

[ He buys some time by talking around it but his face feels warm. He might be saying it without words already. ]

I don't- [ His voice goes softer. ] I don't normally tell strangers. Not even all my friends know. It's not common where I'm from and my power is- It might embarrass some people, like my neighbors.

But it's important you and the others avoid drinking the tea- I had to train to control it. It will hurt anyone who isn't used to it.

[scaredofdogs]

[He isn't really surprised that there are worlds out there where powers are shunned upon or not common knowledge. But if he has a dangerous power then all the more reason for people here to know about it.]

What is your power? If it is dangerous then we need to make sure that people are aware if they get your tea..because it is very possible that they will.

[He smiles, hoping it will be heard in his voice.]

You don't have to be afraid to tell people here. We are all used to such things and there isn't anything to be worried about.

[blessmefather]

[ He still bites his lip and hesitates to speak, the secrecy so ingrained in him. ]

Super senses. My sense of touch, smell, taste, and hearing are stronger than a human's normally are. If I had my power now, I'd easily hear your heartbeat and be able to hear the pulse of someone across the room if I concentrated.

To an untrained person the amount of sound alone could cause... excruciating pain. When my powers were just beginning to grow, before I met my teacher, I used to lie for hours in bed feeling like my head was about to split and the blankets and my clothes were like sandpaper. I- I don't know if the tea would be even that gentle- it could be worse since my power has grown since then.

[scaredofdogs]

Hmm..That does sound like it could be pretty hard to get used to. Maybe we will get lucky and the hotel will find a way to tone it down so it isn't as strong.

[Meanwhile he will file the information away for later in case he ends up with it. There is always the choice to not drink it or give it back to its owner.]

They may separate it into different teas for each sense as well...hard to say until it appears.

[blessmefather]

I don't recommend testing that luck.

[ Matt frowns, not sure what he would do -if he could actually do anything if another person drank that tea. ]

How long do the powers last when you drink the tea?

[scaredofdogs]

Only a few days usually. At most a week but it kind of depends on the power and the person it seems. Nothing about this place seems to be really set in stone or consistent.

[This place is unpredictable and that even includes the food and things the hotel tries to make them drink.]

[blessmefather]

[ Greaaaaat... Matt puts his thoughts aside though. It's not this guy's fault there's bad news. ]

Has... Anyone tried to find a way out of here?

[scaredofdogs]

Pretty sure all of us have tried to find an escape. Some of us have been here for months. We haven't stopped looking.

[he has gone home once but that is complicated and he ended back here three days later so it hardly seems worth explaining anymore.]