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.
velveteened: (} but i'd have to charge)

1 i'm sorry

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-18 06:39 pm (UTC)(link)
( slamming into something else?

or


someone else, that's the question. easy enough mistake to make perhaps when the vertically challenged are involved, but let's not dwell on that. oz's work is usually a bit more sophisticated, but at the moment she'll just find herself faced with a — )


Boo!
timehalt: (pic#6290218)

are not!!

[personal profile] timehalt 2013-12-19 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ Her reaction is quite simple really; Miranda screams loud enough to wake the dead. It goes on for almost a minute. ]
Edited 2013-12-19 02:06 (UTC)
velveteened: (} under your spell)

MAYBE A LITTLE

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-19 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
( WELL that tells him who it is, anyway.

PATS HER BACK??? )


Ah — Miranda, it's just me.
timehalt: (pic#6290116)

[personal profile] timehalt 2013-12-19 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ You may as well have given her a heart attack. She's heaving and out of breath and still practically terrified out of her wits. ]

Wh-who?

[ PLEASE BE SOMEONE SAFE. ]
velveteened: ({ ¡ʇɐq ǝןʇʇıן ǝןʞuıʍʇ ǝןʞuıʍʇ)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-19 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
Oz! ( helpfully, he hopes: ) Lenalee's friend. It's been a while.
timehalt: (pic#6290245)

[personal profile] timehalt 2013-12-21 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
Oz? [ Who the hell--? ] Oh! Um, yes! Hi! Ah, hello. How are you?

[ PLEASE DON'T DO THAT AGAIN. Also where are you? ]
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?
timehalt: (pic#6290116)

[personal profile] timehalt 2013-12-24 04:24 am (UTC)(link)
I--I-I could be better.

[ It's only a little heart attack. It could be worse. ]

Wh-what are you doing down here?
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 )
timehalt: (pic#6290113)

[personal profile] timehalt 2013-12-27 05:25 am (UTC)(link)
I--I was...

[ Everything before seemed so easy. ]

I was trying to find other people.
velveteened: (} i’m so sorry (no))

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-27 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
Well, now you've succeeded! Congratulations, Miranda!

( A NICE PAT ON THE ARM FOR HER SUCCESS )
timehalt: (pic#6290113)

[personal profile] timehalt 2013-12-27 05:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ TRULY AN ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE RECORD BOOKS... ]

Ah...thank you?
velveteened: ({ ¡ʇɐq ǝןʇʇıן ǝןʞuıʍʇ ǝןʞuıʍʇ)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-27 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
You're welcome! Were you looking for anyone in particular?

( he asks like five minutes later )
timehalt: (pic#6290189)

[personal profile] timehalt 2013-12-29 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
Oh! Um. I was!

[ And suddenly it occurs to her that she's only ever met the man twice. ]

...ah. [ Oh dear. ] I think he's here, at least.
velveteened: (} I JUST WALKED AWAY)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-29 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
Who is it?

( MAYBE HE CAN HELP... )
timehalt: (pic#6290054)

[personal profile] timehalt 2013-12-30 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That's a bit important, isn't it? But you see... ]

I, um, forgot to ask.
velveteened: (} ah)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-31 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
Oh.

( yeah that's a tiny bit important )
timehalt: (pic#6290054)

[personal profile] timehalt 2014-01-01 04:56 am (UTC)(link)
[ Eheh. ]

I, ah, you see he said he got cold easily and I wanted to check on him to see if he would be all right here! He said he'd be moving in today, so...

I thought I might find him on the way here!