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.
senseandcecilbility: (All creatures great and small)

[personal profile] senseandcecilbility 2013-12-25 10:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[Break's efforts do not go unnoticed. With a small concerned noise, Kevin presses his forehead to his, mimicking the blind man's secret healing technique. A curtain of dark hair falls on Break's face, warm and smooth. There, there, no smiting for Mister Break today.

He wishes he could apologize for frightening him so, but he cannot. That, he knows too well, would represent the worst kind of treason.
]

...He is your loving creator. Please, try to have some faith.

[He thumps his forehead on Break's again.]

I...Thank you. T-that was very brave.
senseandcecilbility: (So be it purple)

[personal profile] senseandcecilbility 2013-12-25 11:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[Kevin is the one who closes his eyes this time. This is not a step he wishes to take. It leads to a road of no return.]

Angels are different. We should know better. And I...I was just too close to claim ignorance.

[He gives Break a shy smile.]

Besides, He has always favored you anyway.

[Lucifer and Michael even started a war because of humans. Envious. Uriel had been envious too, in his own way. And Solomon had seen through him with terrifying accuracy.]
devotedtothecore: (really. REALLY.)

[personal profile] devotedtothecore 2013-12-26 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ How is it that such a brilliant, sun-like expression should send chills colder than the arctic wind down one's spine, it is a mystery.

Chrys, for his part, bears the weight of Break's hand with stoic (and importantly, outward) resistance.
]

They will be examined. Thoroughly.
devotedtothecore: (NOPE)

1/2

[personal profile] devotedtothecore 2013-12-26 01:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ah, the familiar sensation of somehow being toyed with. How perfectly aggravating. Even if technically he was the one at fault, but even s-- ]
devotedtothecore: (can't be serious about this.)

[personal profile] devotedtothecore 2013-12-26 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
[ ...did he just.

...

Mrngh. There's a dull clanking and rustling as he picks up his toolbelts from the floor, strapping them on with practiced ease.
]

It's my [ duty ] trade. There's no need for that.
velveteened: (} FANBOYING)

1/2

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-26 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
( sorry all he got out of that was GETTING TO BE THE KNIGHT )
velveteened: (} i’m so sorry (no))

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-26 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
The knight always beats the witch, you know! Unless she's not an evil witch after all.

( STARTS UP THE SNOWBALL ASSAULT AGAIN!!!! )

Though — you are too pretty to be an evil witch.

( it's not dumb host club flirting when it's a simple statement of fact, okay.

also there's a distinct possibility that there's an errant (and totally accidental!) snowball that flies in break's direction...... )
velveteened: (} BUT MOM)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-26 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
( noooooo he tugs at the hat )

I can't even see with that on!

( and it'll ruin his hair, gosh. )
velveteened: (} those ten minutes he was a student)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-26 03:00 am (UTC)(link)
I'm exploring! What about you?

( no need to mention the part where he's totally lost his way )
velveteened: (} oh hi kitty)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-26 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
( he finishes tying it off with a HUFFY EXHALE )

I didn't know you were staying around here.

( to be helping, presumably; it's a large castle, though, easy to never run into someone in it. )
velveteened: (} whhhHHHYYYYYYYY)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-26 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
( there's a pause, just drawn out long enough to suggest you didn't mean to do that at all and we both know it, as he rubs off the rest of the spiderweb and turns to more important issues.

LIKE HIS MISERY. )


I just finished reading this book!

( you'd think he'd sound pleased about it, and yet he's more like aghast )
payback: (wat)

[personal profile] payback 2013-12-26 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
[She gives Rosette a really weird look!]

What... are you talking about?
payback: (creeping; hey sup in this thread)

[personal profile] payback 2013-12-26 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
You're... [She lifts a hand.]

That poor guy who's under Xerxes Break's thumb.
payback: (map; plans & papers & seven seas.)

[personal profile] payback 2013-12-26 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
[That's totally meat, and Rin has no idea of the dragon she's awakened by dangling bits of it around the place. Take it easy, Alice!

As it is, Rin barely glances.]


You think? It's not that big a bird...
payback: (haaaaaagh)

[personal profile] payback 2013-12-26 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
AUGH.

[She promptly falls backwards, still with material bundled it her arms. It covers her in moldly fabric and she flops around to crawl out from under it.]
boundbydevotion: (diplomacy)

[personal profile] boundbydevotion 2013-12-26 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
Allen Walker. A boy with white hair and a distinct scar across his left eye, if you haven't spoken to him.

My name is Link [bobs a greeting]. And if you know of anything that needs particular attention please feel free to assign me to it.
debtor: (LENALEE ★ we're gonna rock it)

[personal profile] debtor 2013-12-26 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ with a small shake of his head, ] I'm staying elsewhere. But Mr. Kevin told me that this place was being converted into a living space for people, so I came to help.

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