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.
soul_sister: (UNCALLED FOR!)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2013-12-29 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[In the mean time, Rosette reaches up from the pit of her defeat, grasping for anything, or anyone to pull herself up with.]
soul_sister: (WHY IS IT DOING THAT?)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2013-12-29 11:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[Rosette had run only so far as through the door, holding it open for Oz's servant. It gave her a clear view of this new and terrifying future, where the greatest enemies of mankind have joined.... .... flippers.

The only moderate plus side to this is the fact that they are effectively removing their footprints from the stairs as they attack.

OKAY NO. SHE LEVELS HER HANDGUN TO FIRE. IT'S THE ONLY WAY.]
soul_sister: (Yeah... so about that.)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2013-12-29 11:44 pm (UTC)(link)
........

[Well. THAT'S EASY ENOUGH!]

Do you even know where the supply closet is?
retraced: (something isn't right here)

1/2

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-29 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[CLEARLY THEY HAVE REACHED THE NEXT LEVEL OF HELL.]
retraced: (watching us wither)

2/2

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-29 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I-I-I THOUGHT I TOLD OZ TO THROW ALL OF THE ROOMBAS AWAY!

[Not that this little fact is helpful now. For now, they need to be faster and smarter than a Roomba. Still clutching the broom, he catches up to her and reaches out to grab her wrist and drag her away before she can fire. NO BLOOD ON THE CARPET HE'S NOT CLEANING THIS SHIT AGAIN.]
soul_sister: (ROSETTE PAUUUNCH)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2013-12-30 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
[WE NEED TO TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT YOUR PRIORITIES, GILBERT NIGHTRAY.

In the mean time, she yelps as her aim is pulled off and she takes her finger off of the trigger like it burns (lest she accidentally shoot him).]


THOSE ARE YOURS?!?

Just kick them! THEY CATCH ON FIRE!

[It's all she can do as she's dragged to shove the door closed behind them... but it bounces in the frame, not shutting properly. Before either of them have time to fix it, the hovering penguin horde burst through.]
retraced: (LOUD NOISES)

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-30 12:25 am (UTC)(link)
They're not mine! I have nothing to do with them! Nothing!

[He's not stopping to kick any of them without confirmation that she's not just making things up. They're meant to clean, not explode in flame! Well, as far as he knows, at least. The hovering troops in the front clear the way for the rest to waddle and flop up the stairs and join them in the long hallway.]

What do you mean they catch on fire? How?!
senseandcecilbility: (joy)

[personal profile] senseandcecilbility 2013-12-30 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
[O-orphans. Kevin hugs her back and leans down to give the top of her forehead a chaste kiss.]

Perhaps you should open it before showing so much gratitude.
senseandcecilbility: (so confused)

[personal profile] senseandcecilbility 2013-12-30 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Kevin has dashed towards the dying room. His original plan was to find privacy to use his powers. It is really unfortunate that Mister Gilbert is such a good person.

He would have certainly gotten his face smitten off if Kevin had not spotted him a few seconds in advance.

And so Mister Gilbert is met with the strange tableau of Mister Cecil standing on the dinning table (shoeless, naturally), index finger pointing at the ceiling in a rather commanding manner while dozens of angry penguins besiege him from beneath. The honking sounds are deafening, but Kevin manages to speak loud enough to be heard:
]

W-What are you doing?!
retraced: (oh... part one)

1/2

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-30 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
[Is he...getting ready to lead them in a musical round of some kind...]
retraced: (FROZEN IN TERROR)

2/2

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-30 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
I'm -

[Coming to help you, is what he's trying to say, but just then the penguins spot much easier prey and begin to converge on Gilbert instead, waddling and honking at inavian speed. He yelps and turns tail to run again, leading them down the halls this time, trying to decide on which room they should trap the lot of them in. A room they don't need...]
payback: (wat)

[personal profile] payback 2013-12-30 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
Well in my home, everybody bows to each other when they meet, so don't get excited. [She returns! To tearing down curtains.] What's a rail baron?
payback: (alert; as far as the future spans.)

[personal profile] payback 2013-12-30 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
Do you have lots of nightmares about him?
soul_sister: (WARN ME FIRST)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2013-12-30 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
YOU SOUND REALLY SUSPICIOUS!!

[She looks around frantically for a secure place to do battle... maybe they could lure them outside. Or maybe they just need to burn the whole place down and call it a wash...]

I don't know HOW! I kicked it and it went WRRRR WHOOSH!
senseandcecilbility: (happy birthday)

[personal profile] senseandcecilbility 2013-12-30 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
[...The sentiment of perfect ambience, Kevin muses, could be summarized in two simple thoughts: "Not in public!" and "I don't want this to ever end." Today, the latter wins, just like his raging attachment issues.

He lets his head fall back on Break's shoulder, simultaneously fretting and smiling like an idiot.
]

That only proves that you are completely out of your mind,sir...
devotedtothecore: (sermons in stones.)

[personal profile] devotedtothecore 2013-12-30 04:31 am (UTC)(link)
[ That doesn't help the stiff feeling in the air at all, Gilbert Nightray.

(Chomp. Chew. Swallow.)
]

Older variants of the machines involved. [ Centuries of development older. ] But it [ "was", he almost says ] is part of my vocation, yes.
devotedtothecore: (quiet nights.)

[personal profile] devotedtothecore 2013-12-30 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ The tracks make their leisurely way down two corridors and a flight of stairs, finally stopping at what would, for all intents and purposes, be a dead-end wall. Save for the ladder propped up beside it.

And the square hole in the ceiling panels above, through which, accompanied by the sound of scraping and tapping, bits and flakes of debris slowly drift down, like ominous snowflakes.
]
senseandcecilbility: (It's going to be AMAZING)

[personal profile] senseandcecilbility 2013-12-30 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
[Mad angels are dangerous beings, he should have pointed out. But he focuses on the movie instead, up to the point in which George is saved by those whose lives he had touched. The final ring of bells reduces him to a sobbing mess again. This time, a happy sobbing mess.]

Human beings are so...

[Beautiful, really. Especially when they are not making terrible choices. No wonder God loves them so.]

We should watch more! Together...

[He holds Break's hand and squeezes it. He will bring food from the kitchen so they will not need to leave this room for a whole week!]
senseandcecilbility: (Wait a mo)

[personal profile] senseandcecilbility 2013-12-30 11:09 am (UTC)(link)
[All he wanted was to set the penguins on fire. But now Mister Gilbert is in trouble again, and he must put his shoes on, jump off the table and...

Great minds think alike. A room they don't need...Well, Break's suite is large enough! B-but no, he can't stand the idea of penguins in that room ever again. Well, in that case:
]

The chapel! Take them to the chapel!

[He is going to hell for this, isn't he?]

senseandcecilbility: (Default)

[personal profile] senseandcecilbility 2013-12-30 11:28 am (UTC)(link)
[Considering the mental, emotional and physical strain of nuclear war on his territory, the resurrection of Solomon and four disconsolate months away from young master, this angel is - for the time being - too happy for words. Break might notice how warm his touch has become, the familiar divine aura subtly spreading to meet his, pleasant and peaceful.]

I promise.
velveteened: (} i believe that)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-30 01:38 pm (UTC)(link)
( he shifts his weight back, just a little, as he listens. nothing so dramatic; just bracing it against the back of his chair instead of holding it up himself. )

What we want, ( echoed, in what makes a fair imitation of her own tone to boot. ) What have you been thinking?

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