TEST DRIVE MEME 005

[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. INFESTATION

It starts with soft squeaks echoing in the hallways, the lobby, even Oysters' rooms. There's no accompanying scratching or the scurrying of feet that would usually signify an animal in the walls, only incessant squeaking that never seems to let up. Less than a day after it begins, the first squeaking creature makes its appearance. It is quickly followed by another, and another, and another, until one can't take more than a few steps without encountering one.

They range in size from no longer than an inch to almost a foot in length, and can be found everywhere from the pool area to the buffet to crawling beneath the blankets at night. Aside from their constant presence, they seem harmless. The creatures are soft and squishy, warm and dry to the touch, and don't seem to have any claws or even teeth. If they are treated with kindness, they may even become attached to certain Oysters, who will begin to find they can tell the creature apart from the others.

They can also be killed quite easily. They are resilient, and will bounce if dropped, but they have no defense against anything sharp and the smaller ones will not recover if stepped on.

The hotel staff view the little green creatures with varying levels of distaste, from mild irritation to shrieking at the sight of one.

"It always happens this time of year," one staff may say if asked. "The weather changes, they come in from the garden."

"They're hiding," another may state. "Who wouldn't? It's much safer in here."

Safer from what, you may ask?

The hotel staff give no answer to that.

After only a few days, the small creatures will begin to change. Those who have been shown kindness will become softer, fluffier. Prolonged contact with them will invoke feelings of happiness, will bring daydreams that feel real, though no one else can see them.

Those who have not been treated kindly will become more resilient, with spikes sharp enough to prick skin at the slightest touch. Stumbling over one of these will cause terrible hallucinations, waking nightmares that can only be dispelled with assistance from another.

II. THE QUEEN'S GARDEN

The creatures have been in the hotel over a week when a new archway appears in the hotel lobby.

It is nearly October, hotel staff will say. There is a wedding to prepare for, and the yearly harvest festival. The Queen does so love her Oysters, of course, that she is opening up her gardens for both.

The garden itself is expansive, spanning multiple acres. There is a winding path lined with neatly manicured rose bushes in all colors, another overgrown with ivy, another leading through trees with leaves of reds and golds. Groves of fruit trees are heavy with apples and pears. Elaborate water fountains and delicate streams flow between small ponds, each bordered by different types of water plants and filled with everything ranging from goldfish to koi. There is a chill in the air, and scattered throughout the gardens are stone fire pits, a stash of blankets, bags of marshmallows and cartons of fresh pressed apple cider.

It is the only place aside from the pool that Oysters will be able to see the sun instead of the eternal twilight outside of the hotel windows.

Night will fall here, too, and with it all the fire pits are lit. Lanterns line the paths, and some glow from the thick of the gardens themselves, though there are still shadowy places that one can retreat to if desiring privacy.

III. HEDGE MAZE

The garden is bordered on all sides by a massive wall of shrubbery — a hedge maze, hotel staff will say. They may even warn that those who go in without an escort will find themselves hopelessly lost.

There is nothing stopping Oysters from trying anyway, of course. The entrance to the hedge maze is difficult to find, but not impossible for those who are persistent. No matter what time of day it is in the garden, it will be night in the hedge maze, with no lanterns to guide the way. The entrance back to the garden will glow warm and bright for only a few moments after stepping inside, and will then disappear entirely.

It seems there is no way to go but forward.

The deeper into the maze, the darker it gets, as though even the moon and stars are growing dim. Oysters may catch sounds of soft breathing in the night, and may even observe that the hedge wall itself seems to sway as though something just beyond it — or in it — is moving. Those who enter the maze will find themselves wandering for what feels like hours, days. Does that turn look familiar? Have you been down this way before? Who can tell, when nothing about the maze ever seems to change.

Eventually, Oysters will find that they have been lead back to the garden, exhausted and hungry, though no time at all has passed for everyone else.

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?

Please direct any questions to the first comment on this page, and happy playing, Oysters!

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© tessisamess

Comments

QUESTIONS

[happyheartsstaff]

Haku | Spirited Away

[thekohakuriver]

i. infestation
Haku is not a deliberately cruel sort. He has been accused of being cold, selfish, singleminded, stubborn... Well, he is all that. But he isn't cruel, not for its own sake. There's always a reason.

But he isn't fond of the creatures. He steps over them and around them in his narrow, bare stride, paying them no mind. Little slugs, things that nibbled around the edge of profit margins and patience, he knew these things could plague an establishment like this to no end. There was no avoiding it, really, you just had to adapt.

But when he comes across you, maybe you're not so insensitive to the plight of the small. You are, perhaps, a little puzzling in your choices, however.

"What are you doing?" He asks, poised in the doorway. What are you doing, with that creature?


ii. queen's garden
[The funny thing is, he's worked events like these before. But at any time of the day, Haku prefers solitude, and the rosebushes offer the best version of it. If he closes his eyes he can almost imagine... But then he hears the approach.]

Who's there? [You've been spotted! That's what you get for spying on someone, hiding out among the roses.] Show yourself!


iii. hedge maze
[Haku stumbles out of the maze, disoriented, thorn-scratched, and exhausted. He falls to his knees, expression twisting briefly. What is it? Anger, certainly. Sorrow? It's gone, the moment he notices you. He rubs at his face with one sleeve, then simply sits. Failure.]

You don't have to say it.


iv. welcome home
It's not really in Haku's nature to make friends. He's got his goals, and he seeks out their completion, but here he's...unmoored. Lost. He didn't eat the chocolate, he's not quite that stupid, and if Yubaba couldn't convince him to be then no one else could.

But there's nothing else to do, is all. So here he is wandering among the celebratory atmosphere of the casino, the steaming food-smells and most commonly, the pool. Like a small, silent ghost, all dressed in white, staring disapprovingly at everything he sees. Looking for cracks, for familiar faces, for an unimpeded view of the sky.

For anything. He wants to get out.

v. wild card
Hit me with any approach you like, or get to me at micabean

Nie Huaisang | The Untamed | OTA

[eternalgrief]

A. Infestation

The nonstop squeaking had been irritating very quickly but once the source of the squeaking is discovered Huaisang lightens up. He finds the creatures adorable and curious, wanting to learn more about them. There's so many and he gets caught up with petting any within reach.

"Ah, ah, ah! Be careful where you step!" he warns the next person he sees. There's so many it's truly dangerous for them and it could be for everyone else too.

B. The Queen's Garden

Huaisang wanders through the garden, meandering without any real intention. It smells nice and to see the sun is a luxury already. He looks at all the plants curiously, beautiful flowers, beautiful everything really. He's impressed and enthralled with this. Even as he keeps moving the chill becomes more insistent to him and as darkness starts to fall he admires the lanterns that light the way, although, they really could be better...

All the same, he comes upon one of the firepits and he stops there to rest a bit, taking some apple cider which he finds quite delicious, and a blanket before studying the marshmallows curiously.

"What are they?"

C. Wildcard

[ Open to whatever else! Feel free to assume first meetings have already happened if you wish or to go with a more arrival type idea if that's what you want. ]

Wei Wuxian | Mo Dao Zu Shi

[scaredofdogs]

Tribble Nation

At first Wei Wuxian is confused by the sudden infestation. The creatures are everywhere and he can barely take a step without almost squishing one. He avoids them as best he can but it is very difficult. Luckily he still has fox reflexes and is still under the influence of the demon tea so he is a bit more nimble then he normally would be.

He is sitting by the pool, nine tails splayed out behind him, each one having gained a new little green friend who appears to be taking a nap on top of all the fur. His pant legs are rolled up and his feet are dipped in the water, figuring he could just enjoy a quite place for awhile. But even here the little guys were in full force and he has another of the creatures on his head between his ears and finally one in his hand.

"I don't know what you are..but you seem friendly."

Free Lil' Apple

Wei Wuxian has been waiting for this moment. The day when the doors are opened and they are free to go outside once again. And as soon as he knew that the gardens were once again available to them, he had immediately convinced the donkey to leave the confines of his room and make the terrifying trip downstairs. But as soon as Lil' Apple saw daylight and green grass and an actual apple orchard he was full speed ahead and out the door, leaving Wei Wuxian in his dust.

He let him go, knowing that the donkey wouldn't go far. And Lil' Apple was perfectly content to wander around the gardens, snacking.

Wei Wuxian looks around first then turns his face up towards the sun and smiles. Looks like they will get to have the wedding out here after all. He starts to wander around, admiring the fountains and the ponds and all the signs of fall that have started to seep in.

As he wanders past the orchard he plucks a pear and munches on it as he walks.

And as the sun sets he settles by one of the fire pits to enjoy the heat and toast marshmallows. Remembering how to create the smores since the little camp out he had arranged for him and Lan Wangji at the pool that one time.

Xie Lian | Heaven Official's Blessing

[lucklessgege]

Infestation

They are cute. He can't really deny that. They would be cuter if they weren't everywhere. And he worries a little that they could be dangerous if their numbers grow too much. But he isn't about to harm them when they don't appear to be doing any harm other then being here in abundance.

And so Xie Lian is surrounded by them. He had chosen to meditate in the training room and apparently in doing so had summoned a bunch of the little creatures to join him. They now made an entire ring all the way around his body as he sat on one of the yoga mats.

"Ah..You really shouldn't stay around me. I'm afraid that you might get hurt." Not that he would hurt them, at least not on purpose. But who knows what kind of bad luck might befall them if they chose to stick around.

Gardens

Xie Lian definitely prefers the gardens to the inside of the hotel. The quiet and the beauty of it all makes it a lovely play to relax and try to ease some of the unrest in his mind after having endured being turned into a child a few weeks earlier. Even though he really doesn't look much older then he did then.

He wanders through the gardens, pausing to smell the flowers on occasion before finally settling by one of the ponds. He sits down next to the water so that he can watch the fish as they swim beneath the surface.

Ruoye comes out from under his sleeve and like a snake seems to float out and loom in the air. "You don't have to worry. Nothing out here seems dangerous right now." But still it seems like the little silk bandage has decided to be on guard. An interesting sight for anyone who might be walking by.

Maze

Xie Lian does enjoy puzzles and so seeing the maze, he thought it might be interesting to give it a try. He wanders in and is impressed to see the entrance disappear behind him. He starts heading in further and leaves things to chance as he wanders through the maze. Unfortunately as his bad luck would have it, he can't seem to find the right direction to get to the exit.

Hours later and with a small rumble starting in his stomach, he decides to plop down in the middle of one of the intersections. He pulls a bun from his sleeve. Luckily he had stored things away from the eating area just in case of an emergency. It's always good to be prepared.

He bites into it and then looks up as someone approaches, "Ah..so you decided to take on the maze as well? Would you be interested in working together?" Perhaps this person will have enough good luck to get them out of there.

Jin Ling | The Untamed | OTA

[jinlingers]

A. Infestation

Jin Ling had quickly taken to the creatures that were invading the hotel. He has one in his arms currently as he overhears the staff talking about the creatures hiding from something. Weird... They're no substitute for Fairy but he keeps petting them as he tries to come up with what they could be needing to hide from.

"Do you think they're hiding from something?"

B. Queen's Garden

Jin Ling had been out in the garden for a while when he reaches to grab an apple off the tree, rubbing it on his sleeve to wipe it clean as he starts moving again. It's at least a different sort of scenery, a different activity to do than he's been seeing for the last while. He's in a particularly good mood so he might greet you friendly.

Or otherwise later on you might run into him sitting on a blanket near a firepit, copying what he's seeing other people do with the marshmallows to let the sweet treat warm in the fire.

C. Wildcard

[ Open to being stuck in the maze with someone and whatever else catches the fancy. ]

Wei Wuxian | The Untamed

[sadflutenoises]

I. Infestation
It feels like a bad hangover, coming back to himself after the past few weeks. The rush of memories, of his time here as a child and a teen, causing chaos, making a fool of himself, and all he can think is that it's a good thing his face is so thick, or he might actually feel a little embarrassed over it.

He's eager to shake it all off and put his energy elsewhere, and he decides a bit of wandering is in order, just to see if the arcade and daycare are still there, or if they've brought back the bar and spa and other amenities. Wei Wuxian doesn't get far though, before he runs into a handful of the new creatures, wandering around the hotel.

Wei Wuxian doesn't have the best track record with animals. He means well, of course, but he has a tendency to be, perhaps a little rough, as the rabbits back in Cloud Recesses well know. He's quick to pick one of them up, unable to help himself from bouncing it in his hands or looking it over, wondering if they're any good to eat.

"Just what are you, hm?"

II. Queen's Garden
Wei Wuxian honestly isn't sure if he should be alarmed or flattered, when he sees the Queen's garden, all lit with lanterns and covered in red and gold foliage. There's no other reason it would be so decorated, at least, none that come to mind. And the lanterns? It's not like they've been subtle in their planning, but he hadn't expected help and encouragement in their decor from their captors.

Then again, knowing what he does about the harvested teas, he's sure a wedding is just the sort of boisterous, emotional event they would encourage here. All the same, he'll take it. Seems a shame not to put it all to good use, and it's not as if he can help the way his heart speeds up at the thought of their upcoming wedding, or seeing Lan Zhan all dressed in red and gold.

Besides, it's nice to see the sun again. Seems such a little thing, but he hasn't seen it since the camping trip. Wei Wuxian is rather easy to find, just follow the sound of a flute and you'll see him, reclined on a low branch, feet swinging, as he watches the sky turn to dusk.

III. Hedge Maze
Wei Wuxian was supposed to be more careful.

He's said he'd try, at least. And really, he'd only meant to find the entrance and come back with Lan Zhan, but before he had a chance to even look around, the light vanished behind him, leaving him in darkness, without a way out. He spends a good half-hour just searching the way he'd come, but it's clear he's meant to go through the maze, not back.

At least he's cautious enough to move quietly, unsettled by the noises he hears the deeper he gets into the heart of the maze. He's no stranger to things that go bump in the night, but the creatures and people here are unlike any he's come across before, and after his past brushes with danger, he's not in any hurry to become another cautionary tale.

Wei Wuxian turns quickly, a sharp sound behind him, eyes adjusted now to the darkness, and scanning through it for the source.

"Who's there?"