funnyhearts | TEST DRIVE MEME 001 (#2)

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TEST DRIVE MEME 001 (#2)

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 for our grand opening gala. 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. THE CASINO FLOOR

As you pass through the entrance to the casino floor, an attendant passes you a small bag of chips. The casino is loud and bright and filled with games of every kind — you want to play poker? They've got a table for that. Sabacc? There's a table for that, too. Slots, pachinko, and bingo are just a few of the other games on offer. The attendant in the lobby wasn't lying, either — everyone who plays wins. Everyone, every time.

Servers wander the floor with trays of shotglasses full of multi-coloured liquids, offering them to every Oyster "Compliments of Her Royal Highness." If you're expecting alcohol, though, you'll be surprised — these drinks are teas made of the distilled emotions of every Oyster in the hotel. Each colour of tea corresponds to a different emotion, and as soon as you take a sip, you feel overcome with that emotion.

JOY — the distilled essence of happiness, this tea makes even the most rough and tumble of Oysters giddy with happiness — for a moment. The effect fades into a general sense of contentment and affability after a few seconds, and that itself fades away slowly over the course of twenty minutes.

ANGER — this tea, anger in liquid form, can make the most even-tempered of Oysters ready to absolutely blow a gasket. For twenty minutes, anyone who drinks this tea will find themselves much more easily annoyed, frustrated, and all around irritable and snappy.

SADNESS — distilled sadness is a potent tea, capable of turning a stoic, stalwart Oyster into a blubbering mess in moments. Events that may have previously only been a minor disappointment become the end of the world, every repressed unhappiness comes to the fore, and for twenty minutes, any Oyster who drinks a sadness tea can hardly keep themselves together.

II. MAKING WAVES

If gambling isn't to your interest, there are many other areas of the hotel to explore! For the moment, only The Pool Of Tears and the Pig & Pepper Buffet are available for Oysters to peruse, but the staff assure anyone who asks that the other facilities will be open by the next day. Unfortunately, that means no one can buy any swimsuits from This Elegant Thimble, but the staff aren't going to kick anyone out of the pool for jumping in in their clothes!

There are four main attractions to The Pool of Tears: the pool, the jacuzzi, the wave pool, and the lazy river. The water is always just the right temperature, clean and clear and refreshing. It feels as if the sun shines down from above you, warm and comforting. Scattered through the pool area are clusters of modern lounge chairs, just waiting for someone to come relax in them. The Pool is, in a word, serene.

But not for long. The waves generated by the wave pool begin to get choppier, and larger, until it becomes clear that the generator itself is malfunctioning — too late, however, to avoid the tsunami that crashes through the whole Pool and leaves it flooded. Thankfully, no water escapes into the rest of the hotel, and the hotel staff work quickly to rescue those trapped in the Pool and drain the flooding — but you better hope you can tread water until they get to you!

III. EAT ME, DRINK ME

The Pig & Pepper buffet serves lunch foods from across all different cultures, offering something for everyone, and some things you've never even heard of.

On offer with these lunchtime dishes are cookies and biscuits and scones of all kinds, held on tiered trays with signs that proclaim Eat Me! in delightfully whimsical calligraphy. Nearby, hotel staff man a small booth for doling out cups of fruit waters from large pitchers, which have Drink Me! painted playfully on their sides.

It takes a while to feel the effects — perhaps you've even left the Pig & Pepper by the time it happens — but those who eat the cookies and scones inevitably end up growing in size, whether a few inches or feet, and those who drank the fruity water similarly shrink. Eat enough and you might strain the ceiling; drink enough and you'll be the size of a thimble! It's not permanent — if no one else can help you figure out how to get back to normal, the staff certainly will — but it's definitely inconvenient!

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?

Welcome to the (second!) first TDM of Happy Hearts, a new panfandom roleplaying game here on DW! If you have any questions, please direct them to the first comment on this page. Happy playing, Oysters!

PREMISE RULES FAQ TAKEN RESERVES APPLICATION MOD CONTACT HIATUS & DROPS WORLD INFO NPCS CALENDAR AC REWARDS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"She sounds like a good goddess..." She goes to ponder a little bit. "I wonder why Hades would want to make it like death. I am glad to hear that you managed to stop him." But could a god truly be defeated? Especially one over Death.

Leanne hated that it seems like her eyes were blinded. She can't sense things like she used it other than what her body is strong and weak to.

At his question, she blinks as she was snapped out of her train of thought and nods her head. "There are your kind as well as we Laguez. Those of the bird clans have wings like mine. I am from the Heron clan." She goes to smile up at him. "I do not wish to be a burden to you, my lord Mu. Especially since you were enjoying yourself before I bumped into you."

Edited 2020-05-10 20:22 (UTC)

"Hades is a God of Death. He simply wanted to end all life because his war with Athena have lasted for many ages." He answered. "Without Athena, humans wouldn't exist today."

Mu listens to her tale. "Leanne of the Heron clan." He broke off another crumb of cookie and hands it to her. She needs to eat more to return to her size.

"You're not a burden. I was looking around, searching for answers. Like everyone else, I arrived in a box and this inn is called a hotel. I think they took my sword and my shoes."

"That would be bad for your world at least. Though has anyone tried to speak to Hades?" She was curious about it.

She accepts the cookie crumb and forces herself to eat it with a small pout on her face. There wasn't much joy in eating something sweet.

"But... you are doing so much for one as myself...." She goes to listen and now fully pouts. "I was completely wet when I arrived."

"No one dares to try. One does not simply talk to the God of Death up close. That's like asking an audience with a king."

He won't reveal he died and sacrifice himself for Seiya to cross the wall to the other dimension. His death is something he doesn't want to dwell on at the moment.

Sorry Leanne, but it's one of the few foods available that can restore her back to full height. It's a Wonderland food.

"You were completely wet? When I woke up, I did wonder if I cross an ocean, but I was in a box and didn't see it."

Leanne blinks and tilts her head. What is wrong with seeking an audience? She looked a little confused at that. "But, wouldn't a king wish to speak to people?"

He was hiding something but what, she couldn't tell. Her eyes have been blinded in that way but she goes to let out a few coos towards him

But! Even the crumbs are big to hold but she still does eat it and will be forever paranoid about eating or drinking things here.

"Yes, I was." She goes to blush as it was completely embarrassing position for her to be in. "An ocean?..." She tilts her head before perking up. "That would make sense for me being wet. What about you? Were you wet, my lord Mu?"

Shaking his head as she doesn't seem to understand the infinite power of the Gods. Not important information anyway as Mu was given a new body in this world in the meanwhile during his stay here. Mu doesn't need to explain that God of Death just wanted to end all life.

"I never reached Hades to know. I don't think he's interested in speaking to a common soldier like myself. So, nevermind."

Hopefully, it seems to be working. She seems to grow a few inches taller, but it's only a few crumbs from the cookie.

"I believe they did tow people over oceans the same way they towed you. I was wet, but got myself dried the moment I figured out I was in this place called Wonderland."

She really doesn't as she just know of the two goddesses of her own world. Both according to history were able to be approached and spoken with before the war.

"I see... I am sorry if I am speaking of things beyond my knowledge." She has overstepped the boundaries of old.

She was growing back to her normal size, albeit slowly.

She goes to pout a little when he mentions that they were towed over an ocean. "I would have loved to see it. I never seen the ocean before." Sh goes to blush a little as she remembers how she reacted when she first came out of the box. She goes to stare at the hot pink nail covers adorning her fingers with a small look. Damn things are preventing her from defending herself when she needed it.

"Wonderland? Is that what this strange land is called?"

He blinks, "Ah, nevermind. The gods are not here now. I can't sense them. I'm not sure what is this world or this place."

A few inches, at best. He broke off another small of the cookie and offers it to her. She needs to eat more as long her shrunk stomach can handle it.

"There's lakes and forests outside, but no exit. And believe me, it's true. They call it Wonderland. Though I can't see how wonderful about it is about it if we're imprisoned in this place."

She blinks and just stares at him for a few moments. "You... Can also sense gods?" There were humans that also have that ability? Since when?

She groans a little when he gave her more pieces of the cookie and forces herself to eat it. "I think I will never eat another sweet after this...."

Though at the mentioning of forests, she perks up a little. "Really? I guess then I know where I will be staying." She won't be tied down to a human room if she can help it.

"If their spiritual energies is high enough for me to sense and if they are close by, but my spiritual energy is sealed in this place right now, so I cannot."

With a huff, "Then don't eat anymore of it. I don't like cookies either." If she can find the exit and if the door actually opens.

He broke off a few more cookie crumbs for her to eat. "You came from a different world, aren't you? My world is called Earth."

Spiritual energy? What does that mean? Perhaps it was the way that humans have learned traits that only Herons have. "I.. I would love to learn more of it. If it isn't too bold of me, my lord Mu."

She blinks at his huffiness and quickly blushes. "That is why I said after this. I... I am sorry. I know that you are only trying to help this one."

She accepts them and goes to force herself to eat the crumbs he was giving her, growing a little more with each crumb.

".... There are other worlds besides Tellius? Is that why you mentioned a god instead of a goddess?"

"It's not too bold to ask. I could teach, but not right now." His spiritual energies are sealed by this place, so it's odd and he couldn't find the reasons why. Even the locals are not helpful in that regard. It's a puzzlement by itself. "Because my powers are sealed."

Huh, why she's apologizing? "Don't apologize. I simply don't have all the answers to this place."

He took a moment to think. "I like to think so, yes, but I haven't spoken to the other people from other worlds, but they spoke of it on the network. So your worlds have goddesses and mine has gods. This world of Wonderland must be a different dimension."

She felt relief going through her when he said that she was not being to bold. "I am glad then." She blinks and tilts her head. "Your powers?" She guesses then that would make sense.

"But... you seemed to been hurt by my words. You don't smell as ones who lived her so I know that you don't have the answers."

Though when be mentioned that they could be in a different dimension she gains a confused expression and frowns, idly looking away and fidgety with a lock of her hair. "I... see.... Yes, mine just has two goddesses."

"Yes, they are sealed. I cannot access my abilities. What about you? Do you have any powers?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Hurt? No? I arrived here, so I don't know everything about this place." Just merely stating.

"I don't know if the goddess has any dominion here. But this place does have a Queen who rules this place."

"I am glad then... That it wasn't just me. It seems like they have blinded my eyes and dulled my ears here."

She blinks and just feels herself becoming more and more confused by him. "I see..." Did she mis-read him?

At the mentioning of a Queen, she goes to perk up. "A Queen? I bet if we ask, she can help find a way out."

"No, it wasn't just you. My spiritual powers are sealed, so I don't know what else to do."

On the subject of the Queen, "She made a post on the network not too long ago, but I don't think anyone gets clear answers as to how to escape or return home."

Or an exit to the outside world in that manner. The doors to the outside of the casino are closed.

She frowns a little when he spoke about his powers and she felt so powerless to help him. In fact, all she could bring herself to do was to give one of his fingers a small nuzzle in an attempt to give him comfort.

"Do you think that she is the one who decided to kidnap us? Perhaps that is the reason why she is being vague."

She was trapped inside another building. First the castle of her home and if what this Beorc says is correct then they are trapped here too.

Looking down at her due to her small size. It seems she can't eat anymore.

"I do not know. But I won't trust her easily either way. Until then, we're prisoners here. I think the accommodations is quite comfortable."

Speaking of which, "Can't eat anymore of the cookies?"

Give her a moment to grow again. She can't seem to stomach another bite right now.

"But still... We are a prisoner here. It would be better if we came here on our own free will."

She blink a his question before look away. "No, not right now...I will try to eat more in a few."

He has plenty of cookies should she decide to eat later. Cookies and sugar can't be good for heron stomach.

"You're right, we are prisoners. I don't know what to do." For once, he admits he's powerless in a sense.

"All right." He waited for her to rest, given her size. After waiting for a long while, passing the time by meditation.

"I can escort you to your room. For your size, I can carry you and it will be faster."

Not anymore than a human stomach. She was feeling grateful that he has saved some cookies for her when she feels like she can stomach them again.

".... There must be terms set up for our release. Even if it is a fancy place and they try to make us comfortable... it is still a prison." She then coos up at him in order to try and comfort him in this situation.

The wait was long before she managed to force herself to eat more. "Why would she create such a horrible thing." She couldn't help but to whine. She was feeling self-consious about her size before this.

At his offer, she blinks and suddenly blushes as much as she can. ".... I really don't think that is my room. She seems to have an obsession with a certain color and me." And she will die if she had to enter into that nightmarish room again.

"So far, she doesn't seem to answer any messages back." Heaving a sigh, Mu's knowledge of this place ha hits a limit.

Even if she wanted to take room in the forest, all the doors leading the way out are closed. He rose to his full height while carrying her on the palm of his hand, being careful to keep his balance.

"Then I'll stay until you return back to your full size." But that means eating all the cookies until she returns back to her normal size.

"... That is rather rude of her if I may be so bold to say so myself."

This... This made her feel like a pet but she understood why he was insistent on carrying her. Her wings drooping a little as he carries her.

"I do not wish to burden you more than I have as you have already done so much. I fear that my size may not be as taller as yours."

"You're no burden. I have nothing to do for the rest of the evening."

He takes a look around the casino lobby and sees what games they're offering. He takes a seat at one of the slot machines and gently lays her down on the counter with the buttons as he pulls back a chair and takes a sit.

"Might as well play a game to pass the time." Even though it's Wonderland, everyone is a winner. "Back home, I wasn't able to play games because I'm more interested in training under Athena."

She sighs and opens her mouth to protest but stops when he goes to carry her to one of the games.

"Even so... There must be other things you wish to do, my lord Mu."

Emerald eyes blink and tilts her head at the slot machines, confused as to what they were. "This... Is a game? What is it?" He then mentions training and she goes to look away briefly, finally growing a little bit more.

"I see, did you truly wanted to? To train under them?"

HAPPY HEARTS HOTEL

I. THE CASINO FLOOR

II. MAKING WAVES

III. EAT ME, DRINK ME

IV. WELCOME HOME

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-sweats-

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