hotelcaelum | Event Log #004

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Event Log #004

EVENT LOG
number 004

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ She sure didn't ask to come inside, but. Okay. She'll play. ]

It's not "password," is it?

[ Just. Making sure. ]

[ A look of exaggerated dismay besets his expression, his mouth forming an "o" in utter shock. ]

Whoooooa, Mina-chan! How did you know?!

[ Definitely a little too loud for there maybe being people sleeping nearby, but this is just his normal speaking voice, really. He doesn't have much in the way of an "inside voice".

And yes, he likely would have accepted anything she gave as the password, but he just finds this one funny. ]

[ He's always so loud! Sumina can't help but slip an arm out of her blankie cocoon so she can shush him, just like at the library... But this time, she's going for a direct approach and pressing her finger to his lips. ]

Satoru.

[ As she levels an unimpressed look at him. ]

It's late, you know?

[ Oh, she just straight up touching his lips, okay. He indeed shuts right up at her touch, his gaze going cross-eyed as he glances at her finger. Ah...

She's made her point. Wordlessly, he shuffles back inside the blanket fort, before waving her in after him. ]

[ Wait. What? That's it? Not a single word of noise of protest or whining for being asked to stay quiet?

...

Maybe he's actually tired?

In any case, she follows when she's beckoned, ducking into Fort Blanket, cocoon and all. Once inside, she kneels, too, for fear of disrupting the architecture of the place. ]

Oh, it's more spacious inside than it looks from the outside.

[ Yeah! That must be it...he's definitely not still thinking about how the touch of her finger felt against his lips as they move inside!

It's fairly cozy in here, for being a space constructed in the space of one evening. There are blankets scattered all about along the floor within, as well as ample pillows and cushions. There's an assortment of snacks, including — you guessed it! — pocky, as well as some games and flashlights.

It looks like the perfect slumber party space, if he does say so himself. ]

Impressive, isn't it? I know, I know! Everyone wants to sleep in here, but this space is reserved for two: Satoru Gojo and Sumina Heartleaf!

[ ...So yeah, she's invited to sleep in here. ]

[ It does look like the perfect slumber party space, and reminds her a little bit of what she and Anisa used to get up to when they were very young, stealing leftover snacks from the inn's kitchen and camping out in a vacant room.

She can't help but be endeared by it all, and the way her expression softens from her initial surprise spells as much... ]

[ ...until it dawns on her that he's done this all... for them? He's intending for them to sleep here? The two of them? Together?

...She turns red immediately, in full testament to her shoujo heroine power. ]

I— [ she barely manages to choke out her words. ] What?!

[ Now this time, she is the one forgetting to speak with her inside voice. ]

[ Which of course, means he's going to lean over towards her and press his finger to her lips this time, an amused light dancing in his eyes. Is she getting some sort of salacious wrong idea? Or is sleeping in his presence really just enough to overwhelm her?

Good thing he didn't make it sound any more salacious. ]

If you wanna, anyway. I figure there's plenty of space in here. What, don't like it?

[ He can't help but tease her just a little bit more, but he won't take it too personally if she decides to sleep somewhere else. It is fairly roomy, so they wouldn't even have to sleep right next to each other if she chose not to. ]

[ ...boop. She really should have seen that coming. Sumina draws away immediately, lifting one hand to cover her mouth as if to block from any further attempts!

It's not as if they've never been asleep in each other's company before, thanks to certain food comas and the like, but... here? With everyone else literally in the same room, but hidden away from them feels...

Well. It's rather roomy in here at least, and she doesn't have to decide on anything right at this moment. ]

I-It's— This is really nice, Satoru, I just... wasn't expecting such an offer, haha. [ A beat. ] Is that Pocky?

[ Yes, here, in front of god and everyone, fully aware that they're sharing a blanket fort... ]

You're blushing, Momo.

[ A coy little tease, as he settles down among the blankets, reaching for the box of pocky. Classic strawberry flavor! ]

Yup. What, did you wanna a take two of our pocky game from the beach?

No.

[ Absolutely not, and she offers the response while still covering her mouth.

But with that, at least, she does gently plop down onto the blankets as well, and it's only then that... boom! It turns out she's still been holding her journal this whole time, as it is now emerging from beneath her blanket cocoon held by other hand to be stashed in the corner of the fort where she can easily reach it.

Then, she gestures at the other assortment of things he's keeping in here. ]

You've been quite busy.

[ says miss got her nails painted ]

[ As she plops down with her blanket cocoon and pulls out her journal, he drops down next to her, all his long, angular limbs folding down so he can peer at it. Does she have any scintillating notes written down yet? He can't help but be curious, doubly so as the one who gave the journal to her. ]

Mm, didn't want you to be the only one with something to show off when we met back up. [ Yes, he noticed. ] I like your nails, by the way. They suit you.

[ Even if she didn't do them herself, it's still nice to see her doing little things for herself that could be called impractical for an innkeeper. Little things that allow her to express herself more. ]

[ Wow... Don't read her diary!?

At his compliment, though, she can't help but glance down at her fingers. ]

Ah... Mr Brickston did quite well painting them. Apparently, he made the lacquer himself. Isn't that interesting? I spoke with Mr Nanami for a while, too, and Giselle. Hopefully everyone's settled in well enough now, though...

[ It is late, after all. ]

You're not tired?

[ After his own chat with Giselle, he has his doubts that everyone is settled in, but it's heartening to hear that Sumina spent some time with her as well. Nanami, too — vacationing sorcerers like them need these kinds of connections, these bonds.

After a moment, he shakes his head. ]

Eh, not really. Too wound up from all the excitement.

[ His brows draw together, before he reaches over to grab one of the flashlights. Eagerly, he pushes it into Sumina's hands. ]

Tell me a story, Momo! With puppets.

A... story...?

[ Well. Gods know she's got plenty of those, but she's never told them via puppets before...? There's something so innocent and childish about it, that's only accentuated by Satoru's eagerness, yet... she can't bring herself to mind. ]

Well... What kind of story would you like to hear? An adventurer's tale from my guests? Or something I've read in my ancestors' journals?

[ Not mentioned: a story about Sumina, because she doesn't think those are quite as interesting. ]

[ She's about to be surprise then, because of course, what he wants is — ]

I want a Sumina Heartleaf story. [ He knows why she asks, so he nudges her elbow with her own, offering some gentle encouragement. ] Whatever one you wanna tell me!

[ Whatever it is, it will be captivating. ]

[ Ah... She should have expected as much, really, and were this a few months ago, she might have insisted upon a story about literally anyone other than herself. But as it is— no, as she is now... it takes her a moment or two more of consideration, but she doesn't shy away from the chance that Satoru gives her. Perhaps after speaking with Nanami about her day-to-day earlier, too, the days that have thrown her whole routine for a loop have surfaced to the top of her mind. ]

Mm... Well... Alright. I've got one. [ A beat, as she takes just another moment to collect her thoughts before meeting Satoru's gaze intently. ] So, my cousins Elenaril and Ehrendil - the twins, if you remember from that photograph... Since long before I was even born, they would adventure by themselves as a pair. Elven twins are not to be separated, you see - legends say that grave misfortune occurs if twins are separated for too long.

[ She shoots him a look that just says, I promise this ain't about them. Kind of. ]

Anyroad, one day, the twins returned to the inn after yet another adventure. They seemed to be completely fine, though I began to notice before long... that Ehren was acting a bit out of sorts. Of the two, he's by far quieter than his twin sister, and scarcely even likes to make himself known, but I would catch him... humming, and singing, and then stopping when he saw I'd noticed.

[ By the by, she hasn't been using any puppets at all, but she is rather enthusiastically gesticulating with her hand, flashlight held within her grasp and all. ]

Then one night, after Elenaril had gotten many drinks in while helping me behind the bar, she stood atop the bar and began a rousing rendition of the ballad "Nine Stars Around a Silver Moon," which then triggered a chorus from the rest of the patrons who know of the song. And then much to my utter shock, just when I thought to sit at the piano to provide the accompaniment... Instead, Ehrendil sat at the bench and played the piece so perfectly, and so movingly that some of our guests were brought to tears...

You see, Satoru, despite practicing a form of magic called bladesong, dear Ehren is painfully lacking in any musical inclinations! Not even half a century's worth of lessons from Grandfather could instill any sense of tone and pitch with him, or so I'm told. I knew at that moment that something was amiss.

...And that's how I discovered that Elenaril had bribed a changeling bard to shift and assume the identity of her twin brother so as not to cause any panic, while Ehren himself stayed in the Feywild where they had been adventuring after finding himself completely ensnared in an affair with some fey courtesan. Again.

And that's how I met Vaer. You should ask Winter about them sometime.

[ And if he remembers, too... Mina had mistakenly called Satoru by that name when she woke up after her shadow was returned to her. ]

Edited 2024-02-05 07:18 (UTC)

[ She can be forgiven for the lack of puppets, with how cute this display of enthusiastic storytelling is anyway. He listens with rapt attention, leaning forward with one hand on each knee, the snacks forgotten for the moment. The name does ring a bell…hadn’t she called him that when he and Winter had awoken her from her shadow?

They must be hot. And talented! Regardless, it's a captivating and engaging story, one that has him chuckling by the end; he can just picture Sumina's consternation at finding a doppelganger in place of her cousin. ]

Oohhh, so they’re a friend of yours and Winter’s? [ A beat. You know he has to ask. ] Do they remind you of me?

[ Oh, he’s so eager to unlock this lore. ]

Edited 2024-02-07 03:13 (UTC)

...Yes, they do. You both have white hair, and a, ah... personality that fills the room.

[ It hadn't really occurred to her until then, beyond the fact that they both have white hair and white eyelashes that give them a sort of ethereal appearance. But Vaer is every bit as much of a troublemaker as Satoru is, and unrepentantly so at that, and most of all... They both have a bit of a softness hidden beneath layers and layers of attitude and cocksureness. ]

Haha. After I called Elenaril out on her scheme, I struck a deal with them both. I would let their shenanigans continue as needed, on the condition that Vaer returns to the inn once a week to perform. They've become a regular since then, so - yes, they're a friend of mine and Winter's. You two would get along, too, I think. Perhaps too well, actually.

[ good thing vaer will never show up here ]

[ Too well, huh? That says a lot, coming from Sumina, and it only makes Satoru want to meet this Vaer all the more. They'd either be excellent competition, or a worthwhile ally — in causing Sumina as much trouble as possible, of course. ]

Heh, pretty clever of you to use that to your advantage, Momo. Maybe you ought to invite them to the hotel, next time you check on the inn!

[ Said with a knowing grin, but alas, Vaer will not be appearing in this picture.

He motions to the flashlight in Sumina's hands, lightly tapping her knuckles. ]

You left out the shadow puppets, though.

[ Vaer would call themself both, and if there's anyone in the multiverse out there that could accomplish being both a romantic rival and the best wingperson, it's them. ]

Maybe, but... For the moment, I need them staying put to help Lena out and keep her sane. For whatever that's worth. They can both deal with the alcohol shortage that comes with that, if what Winter tells me is accurate.

[ A long-suffering sigh... Still, the warlock has told her that the inn carries on as ever in spite of everything, just... with a little more chaos.

At Satoru's remark, she peers down at the flashlight in her hand, having forgotten about it entirely. At length, she simply holds it back out to hand back to him. ]

You mean to tell me that wasn't entertaining enough on its own? Why don't you tell me a story then, Mister The Strongest?

[ It was entertaining enough on its own, though honestly, Sumina could read him the phone book, and he's find it captivating. She just has the nicest voice...but that's besides the point! She failed the assignment.

Nevertheless, he is, as always, so easily goaded, and with a self-assured hmpf he flickers on the flashlight and points it towards the nearest "wall" of the blanket fort. ]

Watch and learn. How about...a story from my youth? [ gojo ur 29 ] Ahh, let's see...maybe you'd like to hear about the Chosen Children of File Island?

[ ...Yeah. ]

...The Chosen Children of File Island...?

[ She repeats, for good measure, because boy what a title. She can't help but wonder if this is a Satoru Gojo story or a Satoru Gojo story... ]

I'm curious to hear it. Actually, would you like for me to hold the flashlight up so you can use both hands?

[ Without a second thought, he closes a hand over her own on the flashlight. That sounds perfect, considering how complex some of the shadow puppets he'll want to use might be...

How else is he gonna do Angemon's abs justice? ]

Great idea! Just point it over here...now, it all started with a boy named Taichi who went to summer camp. His sister was supposed to come too, but she had to stay home sick...

[ Hopefully she is ready for this, because he isn't going to be stopping anytime soon. ]

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