Event Log #004

[caelumstaff]

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. NAV | PREMISE | RULES | FAQ | TAKEN hotelcaelum | caelumserver | caelumooc

Comments

[vecna]

[…Good.]

Well. I’d miss you, too.

[If he were Henry Fried Creel? Or if she were battered Vaux? The latter probably. As ridiculous as this hypothetical is, it seems to mean something.]

[velluminous]

You would be dead.

[ she lets him slide through her hands just a little more. ]

[vecna]

[Inhales sharply as he slips a little, holding on all the more deftly to her. Then the breath billows out, disbelieving.]

Not if you were the barbecued one instead. I’d shed a tear for you.

[velluminous]

[ he holds steady. gazing down at him impassively, or so it would seem. Henry should know better by now, though. ]

I am not so certain of that.

[ he wouldn't weep. he would be angry. ]

[vecna]

[She's not wrong.

But that anger doesn't come from nothing. It has a nucleus from which it sprouts grand, ugly things, constantly fed by loneliness and a cold, aching sadness.

So he can say with certainty-] I would be sad, Sprezzatura. Beneath everything else.

[That's how he operates.]

[velluminous]

Ahhh. I understand now.

[ she's falling in love with him.

still holding him in that dip, she leans down, down, and kisses the point of his Adam's apple. ]

[vecna]

[Oh.

Then she'll feel the way he swallows when she presses her lips there, and how his hands rearrange to grip the back of her shoulders -- still holding on, but in a strange sort of half-embrace. Welcoming it.]

What do you understand?

[velluminous]

Nothing important.

[ she drops him.





on the bed. ]

[vecna]

[Wow. Fwomp. Dropped right onto the mattress with a slight bounce.]

Tell me anyway. [Tries to prop himself up on an elbow.] We've time to spare; it's not like we can do anything else.

[velluminous]

I said no, Henry.

[ there's a firmness. trails a finger off the tip of his nose ]

Some things are still just for me.

[vecna]

[As always, it's so tempting to push through the crevices of her mind, if just to hear a whisper of what she could be thinking. But Henry restrains himself; it's easier with practice. He suspects it'd be a sorry "thank you", anyway, to intrude after she's helped him escape a floor full of lava.]

Mysterious as always.

[He says it lightly, clearly acceding, then lying back down with his head on the pillow.]

I'll get through someday.

[velluminous]

Privacy is not same thing as mystery. You know this.

[vecna]

[Henry doesn’t have a good track record with privacy…]

I know. And I’m respecting it. But what I mean is… someday, you’ll open up to me a little more.

[velluminous]

[ she does wonder. ] You think very confidently of this, do you?

[vecna]

You’ll find I’m very patient.

[And, as they said once before-] One day at a time. I’m not giving up.

[velluminous]

[ why does that make her entire chest squeeze painfully tight...?

she touches his cheeks next, the backs of her knuckles. ]

Begotten by my wiles.

[vecna]

[And he raises one hand to steal hers away when she touches him, twining their fingers together.]

Absolutely smitten.

[velluminous]

[ CLUTCHES CHEST

she does, actually. her free hand suddenly, only semi-consciously lifting to rub at her sternum, that lingering ache. lovers have said these kinds of things to her before... why is this time so disarming? is it the focus afforded to him without her life's work to lure her away? a fleeting obsession for lack of her preferred pastimes?

squeezes lightly ]

[vecna]

[Without delving into her mind, or listening for her thoughts, he can’t know what she’s really thinking. But her body language says enough. Henry hopes he’s said the right thing; and garnered at least a fond reaction.

What he’s said is true, after all. Maybe a shade or two lesser than really feels—“smitten” just doesn’t feel as all-encompassing as what’s swallowed him whole—but close enough to count.

Squeezes back.]

Not that it should come as a surprise, right?

[velluminous]

No, of course not surprising. I am who I am, after all. [ she recovers, but with a touch of bluster ] Who could not fall for this woman?

[vecna]

[And he lets her have her recovery.]

True. In that case, the important part is keeping your attention on me.

[What do other suitors matter if she only has eyes for him — if he can manage that, anyway.]

[velluminous]

Hoh! And how do you plan to do this? More daring rescues?

[vecna]

Ha. I'm not going to wish for more situations that require rescue on my or your part.

[Not that he wouldn't rescue her, of course. He absolutely would, and be more gentle about it than the time with the shadows.]

We can find another interesting floor together. [ANOTHER DATE] Or... just stay in together more. I want you to teach me a little of your magic someday.

[Whether or not he could actually learn it is another matter altogether, but he's curious.]

[velluminous]

[ can she suppress a shiver of pleasure at that? his eagerness to learn paired with her love for being seen as the instructor, the knowledge-keeper. it's enough to stave off the inevitable caveats for... a few extra seconds, at least. ]

Magic takes very much mental discipline, if you are not gifted for it from birth.

[ she says to the psychic ]

[vecna]

[She’s saying this to Vecna]

Every aspect of my powers require mental discipline and control.