TEST DRIVE MEME 004

[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. TIME TO PARTY

What timing you have, to be arriving at Happy Hearts now! The hotel is bustling, filled to the brim with guests that don't bear the green mark denoting them as Oysters. Hotel staff are equally as busy, catering to the needs of their extra company on top of the Oysters. Musicians arrive in a flurry of fanfare, demanding the attention of everyone in their wake. If the hotel staff are a little more hurried, a little less friendly and accommodating to new Oysters, surely they can be excused, right?

No matter. There's a party to go tonight, the very one that the musicians are here to play at. They set up in the massive pool area, roping off some areas for dancing, others for tables lined with all manner of food and drink. Indulgence teas make an appearance throughout the night. Anyone who drinks one will find themselves with lowered impulse control, lack of restraint, a desire to partake of things they would normally be wary of, giving into their particular vices much more frequently, etc.

If you intended to miss the party, you may find it difficult to ignore. The celebrations spill out of the pool area and into the hotel lobby, the restaurants, the bars, even up onto the floors of the Oysters' rooms. The music is loud enough to be heard anywhere in the hotel, making sleep a difficulty. You might as well enjoy yourself, right? Or perhaps find someone else attempting to avoid the celebration to commiserate with. It will stop some time in the late hours, at least, and all signs of it will be gone the next day.

II. ATTRIBUTABLE TO HUMAN ERROR

Even after the hotel is no longer quite so full, hotel staff always seem in the middle of doing something or other when they're asked for something. There's just not enough time in the day, is there, for everything that must be done? Any Oysters who point out that there seems to be several other staff members mingling about with nothing to do will be met with silence.

But not to worry! All your needs will still be met. The hotel does have its automated customer service system, for times such as these! Computer screens are available at the counter of every store, at every table in the restaurants, at the bar and spa and gym. Calling for room service? Needing more towels at the pool? Want to book a service at the spa or get a drink at the bar? Simply place your request directly with the system, and whatever you desire will be delivered right to you!

There are still some bugs to be worked out, of course. Were those not the clothes you wanted? Oh, dear, perhaps someone else got yours by mistake. You can't even eat whatever type of food was served to you? Better double check the system — and look, what you have in front of you is exactly the order that was placed? Are you sure you're not the one who was mistaken?

A hotel staff member will eventually correct whatever went wrong, should Oysters not being able to sort out the mix up themselves.

III. WERE YOU LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

Just when it felt like you were getting the layout of the hotel down — you were getting the layout of the hotel down, weren't you? If you thought so before, you may doubt it now. There was a night club here just last night, wasn't there? And a spa over there, a gym just beyond them? If there ever was, there's certainly no sign of them now. There's only a blank wall, a dead end.

Turning to go back the way you came will be of little help. There is no way you came, just another hallway. And another, and another, until you may find yourself quite hopelessly turned around. If you're lucky, it may not be too long before you run into a helpful member of the hotel staff.

They'll be happy to direct you anywhere you need, of course. "The spa?" they'll say. "Do we have a spa? That's news to me. Oh but we're always adding new amenities, of course, that's one of the joys of the Happy Hearts Hotel and Casino!"

Perhaps you'd like directions back to the lobby? Well, they can certainly provide that. You're not alone, are you? A shame. They're much too busy to escort you back themselves. It's a bit of a maze, during renovations, one always easier to navigate with a friend to keep an eye on things.

It won't take long to realize they mean that literally. The hallways don't move as long as someone's watching them, and it will be much easier to follow the staff's directions back to the hotel lobby with one person to look in front and one behind. Hopefully you'll find someone else just as lost as you are.

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?

All hotel amenities on the world info page are available except for the nightclub, the gym, and the hotel spa. 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

[androphobe]

[She bristles again and draws herself up to her full height.] So!? Don’t underestimate me! I-... I don’t need my abilities or anything to fight! And I won’t back down!

[She still looks terrified, but there’s a determination there. She’s been scared of men all her life; even now she wanted nothing more than to scream and hide, but she’s been determined to never let herself be ruled by that fear to the point she couldn’t fight for herself (or others) again.

Still, he seems— annoyingly unimpressed. Ayana realizes vaguely that she must look ridiculous here and her face flushes with embarrassment as she hugs herself, brow furrowed in mild distress. It takes her another few seconds to try speaking up again.]

...What do you mean anyway? What could we possibly have in common?

[shootthesun]

Perhaps you don't, but I see no reason to fight you.

[ She's obviously a terrified girl, and he, being a grown man and warrior, is not about to engage her in combat for the crime of 'being rude about crashing into him'. ]

You said that you couldn't summon - I can't use my abilities either.

[ He admits is frankly, easily. These are facts, and though he doesn't like them, pretending otherwise - particularly with someone else in the same position - would be idiotic. ] Our captors have found a way to block our spiritual power.

[androphobe]

[She opens and closes her mouth a couple times before she goes silent and just stares at him. Her brow furrows and she crosses her arms over her chest, curling her hair around her fingers and pulling on it a little in her anxiety.]

How...? [She takes a deep breath and exhales in a rush, shifting her weight uneasily.] That would mean whoever was in charge here was really powerful... [And it’s not Mobius but she still looks like this. But she can’t summon her catharsis effect. None of it makes sense!]

How are we supposed to fight against something like that...?

[shootthesun]

[ She doesn't waste time on denying it, at least, the fact that she's as powerless as he. He isn't certain what summoning is meant to entail - a weapon? an element? - but the ability is inaccessible. He looks away from her, scanning those around them, all of whom seem content to mind their own business, to look away. ] Clearly we aren't meant to be able to. This is a show of force as much as it is one of weakness - the ability to take our strength, but clearly because having it would let us pose a threat.

I am Nie Mingjue of QingheNie Sect. Who are you?

[androphobe]

That makes sense. [So they have the power to take their abilities away, but without that then likely they could overwhelm whoever was in charge pretty easily. It’s somewhat comforting to know they’re all viewed as a threat.

The introduction and asking for her name in return should be normal, and typical. But Ayana instantly bristles again, mouth twisting in a brief scowl, before she drops it all with another sigh.

The President wouldn’t want her to act like this, she tells herself. She’s been working hard with Ayana on these things, and it’d feel a bit too much like letting her down to slip back into old habits.] ...Sorry. [She mutters at length, apologizing for her behavior, before she bows a little, politely]

I’m Ayana. Amamoto Ayana. Uh, I’m from... the Go-Home Club? [She says it a bit awkwardly, in the tone of someone who’s aware that what she’s saying means nothing to who she’s talking to.]

Sorry, I don’t know what the— The Qinghe Nie Sect is. [they both share that “Nie” part though so—] Is it like your clan? [She could understand what a sect was and all, but she’d never heard of them.]

[shootthesun]

[ She's never heard of the QingheNie - he's never heard of the Go-Home Club. They are equally lost in regards to what the other does with their lives and it's a feeling he's never once had. What sort of person wouldn't have at least heard of the cultivation sects? This sort, apparently. No doubt, she would think the same of his own thoughts. ]

There's no need for apologies.

[ Still. The Go-Home club at least offered an insight into her goals, being such a blunt title, and gives context to her reactions. To someone already far from home, surely this newfound captivity would be even more infuriating. ]

Something like that, yes. The Nie are clan protecting the territory Qinghe. I take it that your 'Go-Home Club' exists because you and yours were already separated from your proper places?

[ Explaining the Sects in any detail seems unnecessary, without spiritual power to give it all context. ]

[androphobe]

[She looks him up and down—he definitely looks like a warrior type, though his clothes make her think of various cosplay things or the gimmicks of some idol groups she’d seen in the underground.

...Somehow, though, she doubts this guy is one of those singing and dancing about a stage.

Maybe there are some warrior clans that still exist out in the more Untamed areas of Asia. She’s pretty sure she’s seen stuff on tv about nomadic tribes that still exist in this day and age!

Which makes it all the more strange that he’d be here, if all this was still somehow connected to Mobius and Mu. Which she’s quickly suspecting isn’t the case either.

But trying to think through all that to make it logical is making her head ache, so she focuses on what she can answer.]

Yeah. It’s a bit weird to explain, but... There were a lot of people trapped together in a sort of... [Should she say virtual reality? Would he even know what that means?? Maybe simpler is better] I guess a dream world. Only a few people were able to realize it was a dream, and half of them—the club—were trying to find a way to break the dream and wake everyone back up.

So this place... Honestly, it’s so much like where I came from I keep thinking it has to be some extension of the dream world. But if I can’t access my abilities anymore, it probably isn’t. And if you have no idea about Mobius or Mu then it definitely isn’t, but is way more confusing.

Most of us have been trapped there for years... I just want to go home again. [She sighs deeply and runs a hand through her hair]

[shootthesun]

[ It's a hard thing to imagine, being trapped in a world of dreams for years on end, and an uncomfortable thing, considering their surroundings, their current circumstances. Nie Mingjue doesn't do something so obviously as shift in discomfort, but there's a seed of worry planted here that will undoubtedly be watered in the days to come. ]

[ On the one hand, not recognizing the names she shares is a sign that at least he hasn't joined her particular entrapment. On the other, it means that they are both trapped in utterly unfamiliar territory. ]

Neither Mobius nor Mu are familiar to me.

[ Great. He sighs himself, looking out at the sea of people flooding this place. ]

With this many inhabitants, it won't take long to find someone willing to explain the rules of this place. If you're in the mood for taking advice, I suggest seeking answers. I'm sure we'll need them.

[androphobe]

[Her expression falls a little, but she's not very surprised by it despite her disappointment.]

It's not like I have a problem asking questions, just-- [She cuts herself off, looking vaguely irritated, almost disgusted before she looks away to stare down the hallways, eyeing the various workers.]

Most of the staff here, the ones that would probably have answers, are men.

[..She says, as if that's the problem in and of itself. Which, to her, it definitely is.]

[shootthesun]

[ It's on the tip of his tongue to just demand why that would be such a problem, but he takes a second look at the girl, and reconsiders. It clearly isn't nervousness, not when she'd been more than willing to be rude to him, but still. The issue could be circumvented. ]

Don't ask questions of them then. You don't have to lower yourself to speak to a man you can spy on.