Event Log #005

[caelumstaff]

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

Comments

[mehrakulous]

🦊 there are worse surprises

[It seems Kaveh's little vacation is only getting more strange. This morning he woke up feeling so odd and then several things hit the floor when he caught his own reflection in the mirror - freshly sporting a pair of desert fox ears. (The tail discovery came later.) Kaveh likes desert foxes just fine, but he's never really wished or needed to be one.

It doesn't take him long to learn just how sensitive their giant ears really are, either. Unless or until he finds a way to muffle some of the sound, Kaveh goes around the hotel a little skittishly, with his hands alternately covering his human ears and his vulpine ones.

Approach?

He'll flinch away preemptively and lift his shoulders, as if he wanted to disappear into his shell like a turtle. (He's absolutely certain he should not think too hard about turtles. Just in case.)]

Not so loud, okay?

🦜 kaveh eats more cursed food

[It'll be a few days before Kaveh gets used to so much hearing all the time. He looks like he hasn't slept that well - if there's a way to request some sort of soundproof room adjustment, he hasn't found it. Mehrak is following along behind him, airborne, though his hands aren't busy covering his ears nearly as much now.

At least the lifts are working.

He finds himself in the main lounge without too many other people around, for a change. Kaveh sits down, letting out a quick and heavy sigh. A plate of cookies in animal shapes sits on the little table beside him.]

This has to be someone's bad joke. [He's not talking to anyone in particular; Mehrak beeps softly in response all the same. Kaveh picks up a lovely bird-shaped cookie and takes a bite. It's not bad. Not too sweet, not overbaked. For one terrible second it makes him want desperately to go home?

And then a beautiful bird is perched on the back of the chair, in Kaveh's place. The bird blinks several times - the floaty box behind it emitting a relentless stream of shrill beeping sounds - and flaps its wings.

And for the rest of the day, Kaveh swoops around the lounge and any floor he can manage to get a lift ride to. He's not the most coordinated at flight, so expect to be divebombed - accidentally, of course.]

💚 wildcard

[For anything else your heart may desire?]

worse surprises

[icyspicy]

[ Skittish desert fox, meet solitary snow leopard. He’s just hanging out by himself in the library, a place for being quiet if there ever was one, but of course he wonders what has the other man so on edge. So, he pads over to investigate. ]

Kav—

[ Not so loud? Okay. At a whisper: ]

Kaveh, are you alright?

[mehrakulous]

[He came to the library in part because it seemed like things couldn't get too out of hand here. While he isn't one to while entire days away just reading, "be quiet" is the primary rule of the library. Pity the Akademiya students never learned this.

So, while he's a little surprised to be found, and more startled to be approached by a big cat of uncertain origin...

...he recognizes the voice. Hands halfway to his ears, he lowers them when Winter(?) swaps to a whisper. Who knew cats could whisper?]

Sorry. I'm fine. [Kaveh isn't whispering, but it's so soft it might as well qualify.] Just...hearing everything.

[icyspicy]

[ Winter chuffs softly in amusement. Snow leopards don’t possess the right kind of vocal chords for roaring, so they might be more predisposed to whispering than most. ]

With those ears? I don’t doubt it.

[mehrakulous]

[He has already walked a while muttering things to himself about how this is what Tighnari must be talking about. There was no one to hear him, at the time - that he knew about - and, at the end of the day, long grumbly walks might feel good but they accomplish very little.

Kaveh timidly touches the tip of one ear again and shakes his head very quickly.]

Just so I'm sure - you're Winter, in there, right?

worse surprises

[startraveler]

Kaveh?

[Aether's steps are quiet, perhaps influenced by his sudden cat traits. He has a pair of cat ears on top of his head and a matching tail swishing behind him.

He can see that his companion seems to be struggling and he lowers his voice when he's asked to.]

Are you okay? [There's concern in his eyes.]

[mehrakulous]

[Quiet steps make it easier to catch Kaveh unawares!

He jumps a little, though Aether isn't naturally all that loud.]

I'm fine. ...Sorry. For snapping.

[He releases a sigh that includes his shoulders, hands dropping to his sides.]

I might be getting used to it? But that could be wishful thinking.

[startraveler]

[He shakes his head.]

No, don't worry about it. And sorry if I startled you.

[He's not very used to this new form either.]

Maybe we could go somewhere quieter? The library sounds like a good idea.

[mehrakulous]

I've been to the library once already. It was quiet, comparatively, but there's...not a lot to do in there if you're not planning to read all day.

[Kaveh would never start a full tirade against reading but he can go to a library at home.]

It happened to you, too, huh? Any idea as to why?

[startraveler]

[He nods.]

Is there anything you'd like to do now? Maybe grab something to eat? Or we could see if there are any less occupied, quieter floors here.

[At the other question, he sadly shakes his head.]

I don't know. When I woke up this morning I already had cat ears and tail... and many other people seem to be affected too.

[mehrakulous]

I haven't seen anybody who isn't dealing with this.

[Kaveh crosses his arms, completely oblivious to his left ear swiveling back and forth - irratation? Vigilance? - and glances around. No one else is nearby, though.]

I wouldn't say no to food, if we can find a place that isn't full of people. [Deep down, he knows he'll need to get used to all the noise somehow. Can't just become a recluse and stay in his room forever.]

[startraveler]

[Aether glances up at that twitching ear, his own cat ear also twitches as if mimicking Kaveh. But his cat traits likely don't allow him to hear as well as his companion does right now.]

Hm... Maybe we could find some kitchen instead so I can make some food for both of us?

[He's been making food for Paimon every single day and now that she's not around, he really isn't doing that much cooking anymore. He kind of misses it. Plus, they can find a quiet place to eat afterwards.]

[mehrakulous]

[Kaveh's surprise spends a moment upon his face.]

You...want to cook?

[For me? is so strongly implied he might as well have said it.

Consider him touched enough to shift straight into problem solving.]

There's got to be a directory around here, right? I haven't been to every floor but all this food they give us comes from somewhere.

[startraveler]

[He gives a smile.]

I cook a lot for Paimon, but she's not here right now, so I can't let my skills go rusty because of that.

[He nods.]

You're right... Maybe it's somewhere on the lower floors? [That would make sense.] I think the fastest would be to ask in one of the restaurants.

[mehrakulous]

[Oh. He...he must miss Paimon. To go from having constant companionship to walking around all alone...

Kaveh might not seem to nod at anything in particular but it's important to him.]

A restaurant. There's one two floors up from here. I won't even care if we have to take the stairs, I think they'll be quiet enough.

[He's doing his best to smile for Aether's sake! All the chaos is doing its damnedest to give him today's worst headache.]

After you?

cursed food

[netherese]

[Gale offers Kaveh a sympathetic smile in passing as he pauses near his seat, having come to investigate the activity in the lounge for himself with a cup from one of the coffee shops in one hand and an owl-shaped cookie in the other.]

I'd say that's an accurate summary of things, yes. Mr. Bennet seems to be having a wonderful time, I've noticed.

[Though there is a faint note of derision in his voice, Gale doesn't seem terribly upset by the current goings-on otherwise. He himself is sporting a pair of perky canine ears and a curled, fluffy tail to match, though admittedly the latter has made it necessary for him to choose his robes carefully.]

How have your ears been—

[He cuts himself off mid-question, because suddenly there is no more Kaveh: there is only a bird and a panicked Mehrak, and Gale glances down at the cookie in his own hand and clears his throat.]

Perhaps I ought to rethink this. Are you alright?

[mehrakulous]

[Of course Mr. Bennet is having a wonderful time. He seems to take actual delight in others' misery, and Kaveh would comment on this, but he's a bird now. A bird who hasn't figured out that he can still talk.

So, a series of rather-goose-like sounds come out of his little bird mouth.

He shakes his head and flaps his wings a few times - agitation, but it turns into a kind of slow fascination while Gale has second thoughts about his cookie and Mehrak continues to sound off some kind of alert.]

Huh.

[!]

Ah! [The bird blinks very fast, shuffling his feet on the chair cushion.] I can talk!

[netherese]

[Mr. Bennet is always having a wonderful time, it would seem, for better or for worse.

Gale recoils just slightly at the goose-like noises that serve as Kaveh's initial response, but his eyebrows shoot upwards in unison when it becomes clear that words are no obstacle, despite the beak.

Well.]

That's rather convenient, to say the least. So you can!

[Marvelous!]

There are potions to bridge such language barriers, but far better, I think, that you're able to express yourself as you normally would. Stunning plumage, by the by.

[mehrakulous]

[It's not all beauty and grace and easy words; Kaveh definitely squawks again like a bird at the compliment.]

That's what's on your mind right now? That it looks good?

[Not that he dislikes looking good like this- no, wait. Everything about this is awful.]

How about a potion to make this not happen?

[netherese]

Right— of course. Not your primary concern. I understand.

[He clears his throat as he proceeds to correct himself.]

Seeing people turn into animals is hardly an oddity where I come from, but admittedly, such things are usually done on purpose. I realize that is not the case here. Given a bit of time, I'm sure I could come up with an antidote, but I doubt this is permanent.

[He lifts the cookie he'd been holding onto, furrowing his brow as he holds it at eye-level and examines it.]

Now, how, exactly, was this feat of transfiguration achieved...?

[mehrakulous]

[If a bird's facial expression can level an accusation at someone, Kaveh is doing that now.]

You're seriously considering eating that cookie to find out, aren't you?

[netherese]

No!

[Well—

He clears his throat before correcting himself.]

I can't deny I'm curious, but I suppose there are other methods to be employed first. There are any number of spells that could identify the magic responsible at least in part.

[Still... he's thinking about it.]

[mehrakulous]

[That's one of the most affirmative "no"s he's ever heard, Gale.

The creature formerly known as Kaveh shifts from foot to foot before making a gentle hop toward the seat of the chair.

He crash lands on it. Give him a break, it's his first day.]

Well I'm standing here. If they're not...uh, dangerous, to the other person, or if you could figure out how to reverse this? I'm willing to participate.

[netherese]

[There are a lot of affirmative 'no's in this man's life. You're like to hear many more before too long, Kaveh.

Gale winces at the crash landing, pausing midway through reaching out a hand to lend him aid— should he require it. That looked rather unpleasant, but it's possible that bringing attention to it will only make it that much more embarrassing. For his first day as a bird, really, Gale thinks Kaveh is doing quite well.]

That is the hope. If I can sort out what makes this particular transmutation spell tick, so to speak, I should be able to undo it, in theory. It would be a simple matter of working the spell backwards. I don't believe it to be dangerous, but your willing participation is much appreciated— no doubt we'll reach a satisfying conclusion much more quickly with aid.

[Thank you for volunteering!]

To start, how do you feel? For a bird, that is. Well, I hope?

[mehrakulous]

[He doesn't need a hand, but he won't be trying flight just yet.]

I don't know how birds are supposed to feel. Small? Sort of...alert? Things definitely don't look the same.

['Working the spell backwards' just makes him think that he'd have to somehow eat the cookie in reverse. ...That sounds horrible.]

But it didn't hurt, or anything like that.