hotelcaelum | Event Log #005

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Event Log #005

EVENT LOG
number 005

Happy February, folks! The hotel is chugging along as it always does and nothing really seems that out of the ordinary, actually. Mr Bennet is at the front desk as per usual, greeting new guests, checking out old ones, generally being mediocre at his job but there's something a little... off about him this morning. A little more Springtime focused. Is it the suit? No, no, that's the same as it always is. Is it the face? No, Mr Bennet's face is unable to be perceived by eyes as per usual. No, it's the —

The bunny ears?

HOP TO IT

It seems Mr Bennet has developed a pair of bunny ears and a tail overnight, but he's not the only one. Every staff member and guest of the hotel will find that they have grown a pair of animal ears and a matching tail when they wake up that morning. It's nekomimi time, y'all! But not just neko, characters will find themselves with all categories of ears and tails. Cats, dogs, rabbit, deer, fish. Whatever animal best suits the characters are what they'll find themselves sporting.

For all intents and purposes, these will be part of your characters bodies and real additional limbs. It will hurt if someone hurts them and they will bleed if someone cuts them. There will be some added bonuses as well as characters will also take on the traits of the animals they become. However players want to interpret this is up to them — it can be light like a cat person just being more aloof or heavy like a spider person having multiple eyes and limbs. Whatever is most fun for the player and most hectic for the character, of course.

This effect will last till the end of the month.

Of course, an additional note: For characters who already have animal ears and/or tails — they will either keep those ears and tails and develop more traits of that animal. Or they can become something entirely different for the month. Player preference!

ANIMAL CRACKERS

Mr Bennet has found this to be hysterical though so he has set up a stall in the main lounge that's advertising animal crackers. They're a little less cracker and more cookie though, and larger than the traditional animal cracker. They also come in all shapes and sizes. If you can think of the animal, you can have an animal cracker with it. There is a dog cracker. There is a whale cracker. There is a spider cracker. All kinds of things. Even fictional animals, like gryphons and dragons!

The only catch is — once your character eats the cracker they will become that animal entirely. This is probably tipped off by the bunny rabbit hopping around the lounge in a little hotel jacket, huh. Thanks Mr Bennet. The effect of these crackers will last as long as the player prefers and characters are free to eat another cracker and become another animal afterwards.

One thing though, as the animal, characters will still be able to speak in animal form. So there's that!

The animal crackers will also be available till the end of the month.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ The thing about being the innkeeper for a very quaint, very magical world-crossing ye olde fantasy inn targeted at adventurers is that... she very often does see weary travelers wandering in. Groups exhausted after a full day's travel and random encounters, or intrepid adventurers fresh from a challenging bout of exploration or confrontation with who-knows-what... She's seen a lot.

No, she doesn't work at Hotel Caelum, but she does very often linger around the concierge to converse with staff, and many of the friends she's made here have been ecstatic around their arrival, ready to kick back and relax on their indefinite vacation. But the guest that walks in now, is—

Not. He reminds her more of those downtrodden adventurers from home than anyone else here has. He also... looks familiar, but she can't quite place him. He couldn't have been one of her guests -because she remembers each and every one of them. Wher has she seen this face before...?

She can't help but approach - uh, mouse ears and tail and all - and quietly call out: ]

Excuse me? Young sir?

[ Happiness has been somewhat of a foreign concept for Yuji over the last few weeks, and that has carried over into this realm, even if he'd rather leave it all behind. It's hard to shrug off weeks and weeks of fighting, of putting himself on the line and not seeming to get anything in return, of risking himself and feeling like he's going to fall apart rather than put himself together and be stronger for it.

Knowing he's safe here, knowing that there might be some break from the horrors of it all, doesn't ease any of the tension or burden that hangs on his shoulders, and he can't help the way he jumps when he hears a voice call out for him. Instinct has him twitching to raise his fists, but... He doesn't need to fight here, does he? He doesn't have to risk it.

Maybe. He's not sure yet.

Blinking at the mouse ears, Yuji stares briefly before gathering his manners and stepping forward, giving the stranger an awkward little bow. If he's half-asleep on his feet, he doesn't think he can be blamed. ]

Hey... Yuji Itadori here.

[ For a fleeting moment, that inkling of recognition starts to take form in her mind, but before she can mistake him for someone else entirely, the young sir blessedly introduces himself.

Yuji Itadori... He doesn't know this woman with pointed half-elf ears and stars in her eyes, but the shift in her features seems to convey, plainly, that she very much recognizes him by name. Blinking in disbelief for a moment, she then tries to offer the same awkward little bow, splaying a hand on her chest as she does so. ]

Ah, I'm Sumina Heartleaf. Welcome, Yuji... I apologize for my reaction just now, I— [ she clears her throat ] I've heard of you from your teacher, Mister Gojo.

Ahh... Gojo-sensei?

[ The look in his eyes is one of stung pain, as if the words are enough to lift him up by the throat and punch him right in the gut. If he looked miserable before, the mention of his teacher seems to be enough to make Yuji appear closer to bursting into tears. He has to lift his hands and rub at his face to force himself to calm down and try and think it through.

Gojo-sensei... How could she have met Gojo-sensei? Unless he came here for a while during the prison - but he's - he shakes his head. He's really dumb, isn't he? None of this makes sense, and he's too tired to really process it all.

He just tries to give Sumina a weak little smile. It doesn't work that well. ]

That's okay. I... I didn't think Gojo-sensei would be here...?

[ Oh, this sweet boy... What happened to him? The last she'd spoken to Gojo about his students, it seemed that Nanami relayed that the kids were going to be alright...

Yuji Itadori does not look alright. He looks a mere moment's away from falling apart, and Sumina's first instinct is to lean forward and lightly grasp his arms with her hands, her voice quiet and gentle as she tries to catch the gaze of his faltering expression with bright eyes. ]

...Mister Yuji. Let's take a seat somewhere quiet and talk, shall we? Then you don't have to hold back, alright?

[ With that, she moves to stand at his side and move her hand to his back to gently guide them to a quieter corner with armchairs, if he allows her to. ]

[ So much can go wrong in such a short amount of time, and Yuji is doing his best to keep it all together - but he's not sure how he's supposed to do that. At least he doesn't have to think about fighting or dealing with anything beyond the panicked rush to figure himself out here, which suddenly seems a little more daunting than it had five minutes ago.

If Gojo-sensei is here... Then that means either good things or bad things. He can't decide yet.

She guides him and Yuji lets her, still feeling a little bit overwhelmed by everything that's happening. He's still just a kid, after all, and this is too much for one pair of shoulders to bear. ]

Yeah... Thanks, Sumina-san.

Edited 2024-02-11 18:21 (UTC)

[ He is just a kid, after all. He is just a kid. Her heart bleeds for the fact, having just recently learned of what Satoru underwent when he was Yuji's age, the burdens he has shouldered since the fateful day he fell and was reforged himself to become the Strongest.

As she regards Yuji, studying his features, she is reminded: their world is so cruel to its youth. ]

You're welcome. Now, take a deep breath in and out for me, if you can?

You can let go here. No one will ask anything of you.

[ The idea of no one asking or demanding anything of him is baffling - Yuji knows what his place is, after all. He knows what his role is. He's a cage, a vessel, and he carries the weight of that inside of him, recognising that he's a cog in the machine of jujutsu sorcery. With everything that's happened in the last few months, some of his strength has been ripped from him, but not his determination.

Not until now. It's only now that the weight of all his emotions has hit him, and he has to try and process them all before he falls apart. ]

Ah, yeah? I can do that...

[ A pretty weird request... He breathes in, and then out, watching her nervously, as if he could breathe wrong. ]

[ Sumina offers a reassuring glance when he looks at her, and nods. ]

That's it. Keep breathing just like that.

[ And also patting him on the back. It's not that she offers all of her inn's guests this kind of treatment when they arrive from their own arduous journeys, but there's a practiced calmness and steadfastness in the way she speaks and appears. ]

You seemed overwhelmed at your arrival. [ A beat. ] If you have anything you need to ask or share, I'm more than happy to lend you my ear.

[ He keeps causing problems for people, huh... He feels a little guilty, even as he blinks back his tears and forces himself to breathe properly.

Yuji lifts his head to look at Sumina, his eyes a little glassy from his tears before he stops himself, sitting up a little. He can't break down now - he can't. No way. It wouldn't be right, not on a stranger. ]

No, it's fine, really... It's okay, but...

[ His gaze turns a little hopeful now. ]

You mentioned... Gojo-sensei?

[ As he sits up, she withdraws her hand from his back. Instead, she clasps both of hers together over her lap, similarly sitting up in turn as she nods. ]

He's here, yes. He and I and some of the other guests have been here for a few months, since this place supposedly first opened.

[ She has... questions about the origins of this place, but that's not for her to get into at the moment. ]

Satoru's mentioned to me that he's been... sealed away, in your world. It's understandable that you would be shocked to hear that he's here, then...

A few months...

[ Sealed away. So does that mean Gojo-sensei doesn't know? If the last thing that he remembers is being locked away in the prison realm, then all the other things haven't happened for him yet. Gojo-sensei is here, but doesn't know, and the panic he feels rises up again.

The best he can do is focus on Sumina, nodding his head absently, lost in his own emotions again. ]

... Yeah, he was in a prison realm. He... Got out here? I don't get it, but that's good.

[ She offers a bit of a rueful smile, but nods. ]

From what I understand, he received his invitation to this place whilst within the Prison Realm. He then checked out briefly some time after we arrived, and found himself still within that place, so he returned here.

[ Though... wait a second. ]

"That's good..." How do you mean?

Oh... It can find people even in those places?

[ The Gojo-sensei he'd met hadn't mentioned anything about this place, though, which is weird... But maybe he forgot, or he didn't think it was worth mentioning? Either way, Yuji doesn't want to think too much about it. It just makes his head - and his heart - hurt.

He's sick of his heart hurting.

Leaning back, he waves one of his hands at her absently. ]

It's okay. It's good that he got out, right?

[ Sumina nods again, though his question does strike a thoughtful expression on her face... Come to think of it, Gojo is the only one she knows of who came here from a sort of... subspace of their world, but she also hasn't asked many other guests about the circumstances in which they received theirs. In any case, that, too, is not important at the moment. ]

I... Hmm. I suppose that's for him to say, ultimately.

[ She's biased and thinks it's good that he's here and not in the Prison Realm, otherwise she wouldn't have met him, but she's not going to say that in front of his student... And very likely not in front of Gojo, either. ]

But I hope you'll be able to find him soon. I'm sure you've missed him. He resides in Suite 2412, by the way - on the 24th floor.

Edited 2024-02-12 23:35 (UTC)

[ Yuji is planning to keep quiet about all the things that he knows that, apparently, other people don't know about. It's better that then to admit it and find himself causing more problems. He's done enough of that for one lifetime, he has no desire to repeat himself and make other people hurt.

Gojo-sensei is here, and that's enough for him right now. He'll find him and they can talk and Yuji can try and figure all of this out. ]

Thank you for letting me know.

[ There's a new determination on his features as he glances up. ]

I'll look for him, in that case.

Ah— If you'd like to look for him right now, I can make sure your things are brought up to your suite?

[ She wants to be helpful. Even though she literally doesn't work here. ]

One other thing. If you need any assistance at all and for whatever reason can't get a hold of your mentors here— please don't hesitate to reach out to me, Yuji.

Ah, no, I - I should sort things out first.

[ Not that he brought many 'things' with him, since he doesn't... Own much... Being an orphan...

Waving his hands, he tries to muster up the best smile he can. ]

I hope you can rely on me too.

[ time to shower Yuji in so many gifts... At his response, though, Sumina blinks, tilting her head to one side slightly. ]

Hm. I'll rely on you to rest and enjoy yourself here, Yuji.

[ He seems like he needs it. But with that, she presses on: ]

What might your room number be? I can guide you there.

[ Watch him get emotional about it, Sumina - ]

Oh, sure? Thanks?

[ A weird request, and not one that he thinks he can really do, considering, but he can try. It's the best he can do with his current situation the way that it is. ]

It's 0201? So second floor?

Ah, yes. It should be rather simple for us to find, then. And lucky you, you've a short way to get to breakfast should the elevators cease to function again.

[ She gets up to her feet and extends a hand to him. ]

Come along. Where are the rest of your things?

[ She doesn't know... how lightly he's packed... ]

They can do that? I guess I could just jump down.

[ What's a few stories above ground level for someone like Yuji Itadori?

Looking sheepish, though, he rubs at his face. ]

I was meant to bring things?

[ Ah. Sumina is quick to wave her hand dismissively and shake her head. ]

Only if you wanted to. There's nothing wrong with traveling light, after all.

[ As for him casually saying he can just jump down from several stories above... Well. She'd be more surprised, if her usual guests at home weren't prone to such feats. And also if she hadn't been subjected to Satoru Gojo's antics for the last few months. She's under the impression that all jujutsu sorcerers are just Like That, though admittedly, she hasn't talked to Nanami much about his abilities.

But with that, she turns on her heel, gesturing gently for him to walk with her. ]

Let's take the stairs, then. But yes, the elevators do malfunction from time to time, at times putting you at a different floor than the one you'd chosen, or not moving entirely... I would ask you to be careful, but I suppose that's the way of your jujutsu sorcerers, isn't it?

That's a relief. I don't have much stuff to bring.

[ Nothing, actually. He's not exactly allowed back into his dorms to grab stuff, and he didn't have a lot to begin with. Some manga, some clothes, things that don't really matter, in the long run. It's nothing that Yuji regrets having to leave behind, material items that are less important than the people.

(They are all kind of Like That, sorry, Sumina-san).

Yuji walks beside her like an attentive puppy, nodding along as she speaks. ]

We end up in trouble even when we're trying not to. Sorry if Gojo-sensei caused you problems.

[ She can't help but chuckle, at that. Look at him, apologizing on behalf of his teacher... shouldn't it be the other way around, in most cases? ]

Yuji, if I may... You needn't apologize for anything on your teacher's behalf, okay? How a grown man acts towards me or someone else isn't anyone's responsibility but his own.

[ Words Nanami should probably also hear even if neither of them will listen. ]

And don't worry. I'm used to troublemakers at home, too.

Event Log #005

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