[ Open ] A Home for the Holidays

[maddeninghatter]

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.

Comments

[debtor]

[IT'S HER...]

I'll try to do a better job—

[ —but catching some movement in the very edge of his vision, he glances up, ] ...Move, Miss Rosette!!

[He wastes no time, REACHING OUT TO GRAB HER.]

[soul_sister]

[She stumbled a bit, falling half ONTO his shoulder rather than gracefully moving beside him. She doesn't even have time to be indignant before the roar and slam of snow behind her causes her to slllllllllloooooowwwwwwwllllyyyy look back at the enormous pile of heavy, hardpack snow.]

[debtor]

[Wraps his arm tight around her instinctively as he draws back, cringing as the snow hits the ground.]




Ah.

Sorry. Again.

[soul_sister]

[She just staaaares at it a moment before, without a comment, wrapping one of her arms around his shoulder in return and then bodily dragging him with her further back away!!! Just. Just in case.]

OKAY! NEXT UP!

Someone else is going up to clear the roof.

[debtor]

[Half-stumbling along with her,]

I can do it!

[soul_sister]

No. No. I think right now, we don't have enough luck for that.

... Maybe someone with wings.

[debtor]

[Okay, he's. loosening his grip on her now.]

I never rely on luck, I don't need it. Or wings.

[soul_sister]

[OH! ... Yes. She actually... hadn't noticed until he lets go. She rubs the back of her neck a bit awkwardly.]

You know what I mean! Don't get killed up there. It's clearly out for us!

[debtor]

[Ha ha...

Flashing a self-assured smile!]

It can't exactly drop snow on me if I'm up there, can it? Don't worry! I'll make sure it can't try that again.

[Stepping a couple feet away from her, eyeing the roof. That too high to climb, probably. Not that he can't reach it. But then he glances back at her, as if considering something.

She did say she was an Exorcist, didn't she? This should be fine. So, he shifts his shovel to his human hand, and activates his Innocence claw - a fur-feathered hood wraps around his shoulders and a white sleeve winds its way down his right arm. Go go gadget... ribbon powers.]

[soul_sister]

[Her eyes go wide and there IS some stark wonder on her face at how... really, showy all of it is. It's like a circus act in a way. But there were no wires on this. As much as Rosette CAN'T actually tell holy energy like Chrono can, there's simply no doubt in her mind.]

Wooow, a specialist type...

[She steps further back, hand shielding her eyes from the sinking sun.]

[debtor]

[A bit ostentatious, not unlike the unholy offspring of a clown, Wolverine and Spider-man - he pulls himself up by white ribbons onto the top of the building and clambers to his feet, one hand still clutching his shovel and claws digging into the roof. Once he's steady, he calls back down,]

Watch out below!

[After deactivating, he begins pushing the snow off the roof (at least he has the courtesy not to fling it this time.) It shan't take him long to clear out this section, at least.]

[soul_sister]

[It is totally acceptable to stand and watch a while... though eventually, it's time for some good old fashioned hard work. She picks up one of the shovels by the door and works at scooping the dislodged snow off of the path. While she has no super strength to brag on, she's more than a good arm.]

Haaah... this stuff's heavier...

I bet it'd make good snowmen.

[debtor]

[He comes back down the same way he'd gone up, Innocence ribbons dislodging themselves from the roof as he lands safely on a patch of snowless ground below.]

Snowmen?

[soul_sister]

[As he drops nearby, she slings an arm over his shoulder, holding one finger up a moment before pointing towards the deep snowfield.]

We could make a TON of them.

Come on, you can't work ALL day.

1/2

[debtor]

[Blinks at the snow. He could keep working. He came here to work, and there's so much more to do...

But, she does have a point . . .


They could make a lot of snowmen.]

[debtor]

I'd wager I could make more...

1/2

[soul_sister]

[She sizes him up... without the fancy pants magic, he is a twiggy little thing.]

No cheating.

[soul_sister]

... If I make more, you can take care of the rest of my chores today.

[debtor]

I'd never. [ cheat.

Ha ha.

But she doesn't look all that intimidating herself. He's sure it'd be no challenge at all.

(A true gentleman would let the lady win, but he thinks he's pretty set on chores for the day already. Maybe he'll still go easy on her, though.)]

You're on.

[He holds out a hand to shake on, and then they can begin.]

[soul_sister]

[She shakes on it, grip firm. Keeping this a gentlemanly competition, she does actually lets it go without and tugs or tripping. Just sizes up the snowfield and...]

GO!

[AND SHE'S OFF, packing snow into a large starter ball.]

[debtor]

[HE RACES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, and immediately separates a big ol' hunk of snow from the pile and starts forming it into some semblance of a sphere.

He works quickly - and messily, this is not a beautiful snowman, but it still technically qualifies - stacking balls and pressing rocks into its head for eyes, moving onto the next without wasting a beat.

HE'S GOT THIS.]

[soul_sister]

[She rolls it into a huge hunk in no time and goes to work on the secon-]

.... SHORT!

NEW RULE, they can't be shorter than you!

[debtor]

[His little snowmen are adorable though...

He pauses, a snowman's head held over his own.

Fine, but if he has to make 5'9'' snowmen:] Then the same rule applies to you, you know!

[soul_sister]

You're on!

[She makes rolls the midsection into a .. snow pillar and just lifts it up to dump on the base. She tosses a snowball head on and zooms to HER next one.]

[debtor]

[Rolls the snowman's head up onto its body-

WAIT NO.]

They need to be shaped like proper snowmen, as well!