maddeninghatter: (debonair)
Xerxes Break ([personal profile] maddeninghatter) wrote in [community profile] exsiliumlogs2013-12-15 12:10 pm

[ Open ] A Home for the Holidays

Date & Time: December 10th - 21st
Location: The Museum of Old and New(ish) Art
Characters: Xerxes Break and you. Information about and a map to the castle has been left in the Transporter Facility, so anyone interested in renovating a warm and secure (if weird) place to stay is welcome.
Summary: An eccentric billionaire’s 27th century medieval-replica castle/art museum/hotel lies abandoned and half-buried in the snow. It’s going to take a lot of work to renovate, but hey it’s more kid-friendly than a brothel. Right? Right?
Warnings: None.

The 1980's ski-wear themed snow suits Break brought back from this mission proved to be a hit with the local population (so stylish!), as were Mister Cecil's ugly Christmas sweaters, so they have been able to trade for goods and some technical services, to help make this place more livable. Supplies from the DITR have also been a great help. However, a lot of work needs to be done: cleaning and vermin-smiting and clearing away snow. Come and help, or simply explore.

(ooc: feel free to start threads willy-nilly, action-spam or prose, name your time and place, threadjack and mingle.)


(1) Museum:

The stairway forces you straight down, past four floors, into the very dungeons of the castle. There are no windows; it was artificially lit, although the electricity isn't on at present. However, the old geothermal power generation system in the structure is simple and robust, so only a small amount of tweaking will be required to get it operational once more. In the meantime, the DITR has kindly supplied you with bright uber-LED flashlights and batteries with advanced energy storage, meaning they should stay lit for weeks. Should.

As soon as you emerge in the dungeons, you’ll find yourself lost in a maze of gallery after gallery. High sandstone walls rise up, towering over everything. What was once a set of opulent velvet curtains lining the art spaces hang in rags, having long since been devoured by rats.

Many of the paintings are destroyed, but most are intact, as are the sculptures and installations, preserved in the deep freeze. The subject matter is bizarre and disturbing. Take this human centipede for instance. And what on earth does this machine do? What’s that smell….

However, some of the “artworks” are playful and interactive. Try a game of ping pong on an accordion-shaped table; or jump on a trampoline in a cage with bells underneath; or find the white library, full of blank books (don’t deface the art!).

Try not to get lost.


(2) Castle/Hotel:

The upper levels of the castle were hotel rooms, long ago. Alas, all of the sheets and bedding were made into nests by rats. Here too, the lush velvet curtains hang in rags, and the wool carpets over the stone floors have lost their battle to the moths.

Yet most of the furniture remains intact, as well as the elaborate chandeliers. Compact heaters will keep the spaces at a near-comfortable temperature, and sleeping bags will do for now.

Let’s get cleaning!


(3) R&R

All that hard work has finally paid off. The geothermal power system is now providing electricity and abundant steam heat, and multiple hotel rooms are in habitable shape. Most importantly, the kitchen is functional. it's time to relax with a cup of hot spiced wine (or chocolate) and pastry. Some mischievous person has hung mistletoe over various random entranceways, so look sharp!


(4) Playing in the snow

The weak December sun makes an appearance, illuminating the ice crystals in the frigid air, creating a sun dog. The snow sparkles like white diamonds. It’s still freezing, but how can you stay inside on a day like this? Anyway, the snow needs shoveling, but perhaps there’s time to make a snowman (or snow angels).


(5) Penguins:

In addition to vermin of the four-legged, tailed and whiskered variety, this castle is home to a flock of penguins. These might be the principal reason the castle has lain abandoned all these years. They can be found anywhere in or around the structure. Approach with caution. Or better yet —



— run away.
devotedtothecore: (sermons in stones.)

[personal profile] devotedtothecore 2013-12-21 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[ To his credit, and perhaps as a testament to the fortifying power of pure pique, Chrys holds up against that look with an unflinching one of his own, punctuated by a single, silent, perfectly dignified bite of cookie.

He grabs one more sandwich for the road once Kevin turns away.
]

My thanks for the food.

[ Lest "ingrate" be added to Kevin's growing list of expletives addressed to him, after all. ]
senseandcecilbility: (Wait!)

[personal profile] senseandcecilbility 2013-12-21 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[There is a frightened little sound as Kevin covers his face in shame.]

M-Mister Break, you are being horrible again!

[But he also knows what Break is up to. Distracting him from the main point. And so he bravely pushes forward:]

If...if that is what it takes...
senseandcecilbility: (The poor man at his gate)

[personal profile] senseandcecilbility 2013-12-21 04:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[Good kid, even if he is still a pervert. The sink is working properly too. Hmm, he might have ice cream for Chrys next time... Maybe.]

Dinner will be served at six. Do not be late.
soul_sister: (PUT THAT AWAY)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2013-12-21 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
WAIT WAIT.... Lets not stress him out! Right! We'll just keep it between us! Is there even currency anymore... I can work!
devotedtothecore: (brave boys.)

1/2

[personal profile] devotedtothecore 2013-12-21 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Feel that. The shoulder under Break's hand falls still, the owner silent and focused, tuning senses to the room around them. He closes his eyes, fingertips splayed out against the cool floor.

...his pulse, his breath, Break's breath, Break's pulse. Turbines spinning, a gauge ticking... meant-to-be vibrations. Background noises. Tune those out, keep listening. Nothing else, yet.

And...
]
devotedtothecore: (dusty compass.)

[personal profile] devotedtothecore 2013-12-21 04:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[ --there. (A faint, upward jerk of the head at that, a deep frown crossing his brow.) ]

That's---

[ Glancing at Break, intent. ]

You felt the same before this? Where?
devotedtothecore: (...keep walking.)

[personal profile] devotedtothecore 2013-12-21 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ....perhaps Mrs. Cecil might have been a more correct term of address. It will suffice mentally.

There's a mmh of presumable assent, and the offending boots take their soiled leave from Kevin's territory.
]
payback: (neutral | leagues of glass)

[personal profile] payback 2013-12-21 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[Shaking hands is always a little weird for her - it's just not in the scope of her tradition. Rin looks at Rosette's outstretched hand a moment before she reaches out and gives it a shake, then drops the hand and bows to Rosette at a respectful inclination.]

We could ask too, if there were other people who wanted any of the material. First we should see what's decent.
velveteened: (} i'LL BE TALL ONE DAY)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-22 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
( PLS. he sighs but doesn't fuss. )

Gil.
velveteened: (} i was not expecting this!)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-22 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
( oz had been fairly engrossed by his book, himself, meaning he'd noticed as much of his surroundings as he'd been noticed. so it's not immediately that he follows why his despair is COMPOUNDED BY DUSTY STICKINESS.

truly, his suffering is unmatched.

he looks up in surprise while raising a hand to his face, brushing away the...actually, does he even want to know? )


Break?

( don't fall on him!!! )
velveteened: (} wh...at.....)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-22 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
I see.

( t-that's all he's got. )

Ah, Katniss, where have you been staying?
velveteened: (} how cheerfully he seems to grin)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-22 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
( WELL THAT'S A LITTLE UNEXPECTED.

it's a triple whammy of snow scatter and the two snowballs that all hit their marks. he drops the snow he'd been shaping to hold up both arms in some defense. )


Snow witch?

( it's incredulous laughter, no less amused )

Since when?
velveteened: (} i'LL BE TALL ONE DAY)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-22 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
( GOD FINE HE'LL PUT ON THE SCARF )

Who's the one being stubborn?
velveteened: (} I GOT THIS)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-22 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
( rude??? he steps to her side, into view )

I'm well, you?
senseandcecilbility: (nonface)

[personal profile] senseandcecilbility 2013-12-22 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
[That, of course, reminds him of Michael, though with far less danger of getting one's trachea crushed. He holds Break's foot and is about to express his annoyance, but reconsiders it.

Instead, he squeezes the foot gently and gives it a meditative scowl.
]

...I am not.
Edited 2013-12-22 02:30 (UTC)
senseandcecilbility: (sad)

[personal profile] senseandcecilbility 2013-12-22 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Kevin understands why Break chose this moment to ask about Solomon. It just makes him afraid that he will leave too.]

I cannot hide my true form from him, but the Initiative took him from just a few days after our very first meeting.

I...could not tell him...what happened to me afterwards.

[Though Solomon is smart enough to figure out on his own that Uriel lost his wing because of him, and that concerns the angel quite a bit, to say the least.]
Edited 2013-12-22 02:55 (UTC)
debtor: (GRIN ★ going to hell)

[personal profile] debtor 2013-12-22 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
[VICTORY IS ALLEN'S.]

Nobody, now.
senseandcecilbility: (William)

[personal profile] senseandcecilbility 2013-12-22 07:14 am (UTC)(link)
[The touch is more welcome than Kevin himself would have anticipated. Someone who seems to be there for him, how strange it feels. He rests his forehead on Break's shoulder, as if supporting his skull full of thoughts had became simply too difficult.

He chuckles at his own awkward existence, and finally allows himself to close his eyes.
]

It is the best for him, believe me. Everything became so much worse before they became even remotely better.

[Maybe Solomon will not remember half of the terrible things he did to him. Can pain be measured that way? Kevin doubts it, but he can always hope.]
Edited 2013-12-22 07:15 (UTC)

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