[ 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

done

[maddeninghatter]

[ Break’s mind registers the fact that Uriel hadn’t told him about this before, but then slides right over it. He keeps whole steamer trunks of secrets himself; he is in no position to judge. So he doesn’t remark upon this, but instead says pleasantly: ]

I think you’d better go down and get a couple of glasses, and then meet me in the drawing room. And then we’ll see if what’s in this bottle is actually drinkable, hm?

1/3 D'aww.

[senseandcecilbility]

[Kevin watches with great anxiety the impossible number of expressions cross Break's face. Is he mad because he did not tell him? Is he going to push him away?]

Re: done

[senseandcecilbility]

...

[So much fretting, only to be unexpectedly reduced to gross tears of gratitude in the end.]

M-Mister Break...

[senseandcecilbility]

[But soon enough, he straightens his back and wipe the tears off with the back of his hand.]

I will be right back.

[maddeninghatter]

[ When Kevin returns, he'll find Break upstairs, curled up on what's left of one of the sofas. While the furniture was, for the most part, preserved in the deep freeze, the upholstery deteriorated or was consumed by rats. Thus a sleeping bag has been pressed into service, until such time as the cushions can be repaired.

The bottle is open on a coffee table. The green liquid inside almost glows. ]

[senseandcecilbility]

[The angel not only comes back with the Bohemian glasses, but also with sandwiches and nutty shortcakes he bargained for in the city.]

What a strange color...

[Still moved by Break's actions, he carefully sits by his side and pauses to smell the bottles contents.]

[maddeninghatter]

[ The peeling label on the bottle says:

Chartreuse
Fabriquée par les pères Chartreux

It smells richly sweet, of herbs and anise. ]

I'll let you do the honors, Mister Cecil.

[ He waves casually towards the bottle and the glasses, which he heard clinking. Kevin might also be interested to see that, at the bottom, the label also says ALC. 55% BY VOL. ]

[senseandcecilbility]

[He stares at the bottle, then back at Break, then back at the bottle.

Kevin might not know that, but he has just fallen in love all over again.]

Mister Break, you are a real angel!

[With flawless expertise, he pours the green miracle for both of them.]

1/2

[maddeninghatter]

Ha! Ha! Ha! I'm sure I'm anything but.

[ The green miracle is viscous, flowing thickly, into the glasses. Break reaches for one of them and tips the glass back, taking a healthy sip... ]

[maddeninghatter]

BLEAH!

[ Aaaaaaaand spits it out again. To say the herbal flavor is assertive would be a gross understatement. Although the flavors have melded together with hundreds of years of aging, they are still....... really, really powerful.

The sensation is similar to eating a bag of herbal tea, covered in honey. ]

[senseandcecilbility]

[Kevin laughs wholeheartedly and quickly downs his drink with one single gulp. Once that priority has been met, he proceeds to wipe off the mess on Break's face with a handkerchief. Like a good mom.]

I believe the shortcakes will help.

[maddeninghatter]

[ He pulls away from Kevin's fussing, grumping mightily at being laughed at. ]

That stuff's terrible. How can you drink it?

[ Emily shrieks: ]

YOU WINO!

[senseandcecilbility]

Like some silly humans, alcohol is an acquired taste.

[He bring his forefinger to his smiling lips, giving Emily the universal silence gesture, and then leans forward to kiss Break's forehead.]

Thank you.

[Now, now. He should get a grip otherwise he will become weepy again. Young master hates that.]

1/3

[maddeninghatter]

Pfff! It tastes like fermented vegetable—

[maddeninghatter]

[ ...

Kevin. He'd burst into tears on the stairs, and seems close to it now. A real basket case. This is clearly the result of being reunited with his most precious person. He doesn't know what to do with himself. Any little thing is liable to tip him over the edge.

Poor fellow. ]

[maddeninghatter]

[ In a long-suffering, put-upon voice: ]

I believe you mentioned something about shortcake. I need something to get the taste of that horrible stuff out of my mouth~!

[senseandcecilbility]

...

[Well, there is nothing left to do but stick a shortcake into Break's mouth.]

[maddeninghatter]

[ — which he gulps down like a penguin with a fish. ]

There, you see? It's very simple to be happy. I'll take all the cake, you can have what passes for liquor —

[ Emily adds: ]

AND YOU CAN HAVE THE HANGOVER, TOO!

[senseandcecilbility]

[The perfect marriage, clearly.

He pours himself another glass and directs a toast at Emily.]

That is rather inaccurate, madam. I have never suffered from hangovers in my entire life.

[Which is a lie, told by a terrible liar. As a compensation, Break gets another shortcake.]

I fear that if you take all the cake, you will end up very sick, and then what would I tell Mister Gilbert? Don't you ever eat vegetables?

[Solomon, who was raised by irresponsible demons, hates his greens, but Kevin has been trying to correct that for his own good.

He wonders what sort of irresponsible parents have raised Xerxes Break.]

[maddeninghatter]

And I've never been sick.

[ Two can play at that game. ]

As for vegetables, well.... haha!

When you get to be my age, you realize you've got to get as many desserts in as possible. I'll save the vegetables for the end, if I have time.

[senseandcecilbility]

You are still young. Too young to talk as if desserts were the only pleasure to live for.

[How long has Mister Break been this desperate?]

If you do not live at least one hundred years, many of us will feel terribly cheated.

[maddeninghatter]

[ A hundred years. To have so long as that...

Polishing off the second shortcake, he leans in closer to Kevin and drawls horribly: ]

Is that sooo, Mister Cecil? Well then, what pleasures should I live for?

[senseandcecilbility]

[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...

[maddeninghatter]

Hahahaha~!

[ In a single, fluid movement, he throws himself back upon the sofa and hooks his legs over the back of it, batting at Kevin's shoulder with his stockinged foot. ]

Don't force yourself.

[senseandcecilbility]

[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.