Happy New Year, folks! The Hotel is settling into the New Year with little fanfare. Mr Bennet remains at his post behind the hotel desk and helps check guests in and out daily. The Hotel continues to hustle and bustle and nothing seems to be going too awry beyond the usual shenanigans. In fact, one might even call this the slow season for the Hotel.
THE FLOOR IS LAVA
That is until the second week of the month where the intercoms start with Mr Bennet's pleasant voice coming through.
"Hello, hello! This is just a small warning that one of our floors, the current 79th floor to be exact, has had a small... malfunction, I suppose, and will be affecting the other floors of the Hotel. No word yet from maintenance when this will be over, so stay on your toes, my dear guests!"
And that's it. No indication of what the problem is, or anything like that. It's up to you to figure out what's going on! And what is going on? Well, it'll become obvious very quickly when wherever characters happen to be in the Hotel, they'll soon start feeling a very obvious warmth on the floor below them. It'll increase the longer they stay standing in one spot until it's almost burning their feet.
The only salve for this will be hopping onto a nearby piece of furniture and getting their feet off the floor. It'll soon become obvious that the entire Hotel has been wrapped in a game of The Floor is Lava, including the floor turning into actual lava on some of the floors.
SAFETY SLEEPOVER
Of course, the Hotel is not cruel enough to make the entire Hotel unsafe and soon enough Mr Bennet's voice will come through on the intercom again.
"For those looking for respite from our current Hotel wide game," because clearly it's a game now. "We'll be serving tea and cake in the lounge on the ground floor. Maintenance has been able to fix the lounge for now so feel free to come by when you can if you'd like to rest. We have sleeping bags!"
As folks enter the lounge, they'll find that Mr Bennet is true to his word. The lounge has been converted into a giant sleepover, with sleeping bags lining the floor and a long table off to the side where people can eat their tea and cakes. Mr Bennet is near the food table, handing out pajamas, toothbrushes, and sleep masks to those who request them. There's some new doors off to the side leading to some restrooms, at least, so guests can change in private.
Though, one thing to point out is when Mr Bennet says there's tea and cakes, the cakes happen to be lava cakes. He thinks he's funny.
THE FLOOR IS ICE
It'll take about two days for hotel maintenance to fix the Hotel and return it to normal. So that's two days of living out of the lounge or hopping around the Hotel to get places. What a headache. Mr Bennet will make another lively announcement on the intercom.
"We are back in business, folks! I've just been given word that everything should have return to normal now. Though, there is a warning to make sure not to walk around barefoot for at least another day or so while the Hotel settles. Thank you for your patience!"
What that means becomes obvious soon as anyone walking around now will feel that the floor is especially cold. That's a bit better than the heat, at least, but still kind of a pain in the ass. Anyone who tries to walk around barefoot will find that their feet quickly start to freeze but any permanent damage is easily avoidable by putting on some socks or getting off the floor entirely.
Though that said, the ice does lead to some furniture sliding around and even with shoes on, characters might find themselves sliding too.
What a lovely end to the holidays.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
caelumstaff) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
hotelcaelum2024-01-12 09:44 am
no subject
...Maybe she should have anticipated it more, from how many syllables are in his name alone...
At length, she simply smiles and nods. ]
Well... I don't see why not, though I've often heard "traveling companion" used for similar sentiments.
[ But more importantly: ]
This U'Duasha sounds like a remarkable place. I've not seen a place with black sand before, I don't think.
no subject
[ He smiles when he says this but it turns bittersweet as he continues, sort of embarrassing but pragmatic admittance and not entirely the whole truth. ] The nature of my hobbies and studies keep me localized. I don't oft get to travel... is it the same for you and your work at the inn?
no subject
It's the same for me, yes. Though our inn's doors reach many worlds, I... Ah, I don't take the chance to step beyond them very often, myself.
[ A wry little laugh. ]
It's a bit ironic, isn't it?
no subject
[ By now he's finished with one coat on both hands. He gently twists her wrist and raises her hands for a closer look, probably calling to attention his lack of one eye as he seems to accommodate for depth errors by either moving her hands back and forth or craning his neck so. He'd taken his time and he sees no splotches or mispaints on her skin and he's distracted by further exam; noting her hard working hands, the care of her nails, how soft and warm she feels against his own palms and finger tips. He dares to lift his gaze and consider the owner of these hands and looses himself in the glittering constellation that seems to be hidden behind her hazel eyes. Time slips by him, maybe an extra second or two or three.
In a facsimile of his own untruth he realizes he'd distracted himself in his own work to the point he'd neglected the human element, both him and her. He's holding her hands and she is so very pretty, and warm, and nice, and endearing, and and it feels nice and maybe it'd feel nice if he'd just let himself—
A flash of insecurity makes his own hands feel cold and the sound of his oppressive mother's judgmental voice seems to echo in the back of his head like a licking flame. He lets her go smoothly, nary an indication of this self-wrought worry than the briefest bittersweet furrow of his brow, and prepares the top coat. ]
Say if you did find reprieve from your duties and, um, no worry for time or resources... where would you like to go or what would you like most to do, Miss Heartleaf?
no subject
In many ways, she's reminded of her father - a scholar and tinkerer of sorts, himself - including that unknowable hesitation and that flicker of something bittersweet across his features that seems to take hold of him for reasons she cannot begin to guess at. ]
Mister Brickston...?
[ Her hands soon find themselves splayed over the table once more, as he lowers them and then fusses over the top coat. And before she can ask if he's alright, he poses another question to her; and it's one that she must spend just a moment too long to answer. ]
Truth to tell, I'm not really sure. But I believe that's part of what I'm here to learn for myself. [ A beat, then she goes on, ] And you? Will there come a time that your studies will be complete, and you find yourself being able to go elsewhere, even for only a spell?
no subject
He thinks on it for a moment. He'd been avoiding her gaze as he worked with the lacquer bottle, almost afraid he'd get entranced in it again but he steels himself. In the short time they've met and talked, she has done nothing to ever make him feel unsafe, so he speaks with honesty. ]
For a spell, yes, I'd like that. I've come to love my home very much, and our domestic problems are ones I hope to remedy, least of all our looming energy crisis. It necessitates staying local.
[ He starts putting on the top coat, smile going from bittersweet to more wistful and earnest. ] I do see the value in broadening my perspectives, of gaining outside experiences, taking in new and novel knowledge... but I should also think that it would be much more enjoyable, and, dare I say more meaningful, to share these things with someone else.
no subject
The wish that he ultimately expresses, at least, is one that well and truly resonates with her. It's part of what she's learning here; even if the hotel cannot permit them to travel to other worlds from here (she's yet to try) it's been wonderful just to meet and talk to and learn about and from their fellow guests here. And, well, they all have each other to share these things with.
But as far as actual traveling is concerned... She smiles knowingly, giving a gentle nod of her head. ]
To that, you'll have the testimony of many of my guests. I've rarely ever seen travelers come through on their own, or if they do, they don't stay solitary for very long. That's part of the journey, too, isn't it?
[ Literally the friends they make along the way. ]
How about your friend, then? Miss Ceci? You could travel with her, when you're able to.
no subject
Then I shall consider this part of my journey henceforth, and the likes of you a part of it, Miss Heartleaf.
[ Finished, he raises her palm slightly to inspect his handiwork once again. He seems pleased. ]
She should have me as her vacationmate next visit to Iruvia. [ He caps the bottle with a self-important huff. ] It's only fair.