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: (} camaraderie)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-27 05:52 am (UTC)(link)
( slow blink )

Okay.
retraced: (LOUD NOISES)

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-27 05:54 am (UTC)(link)
I'm not kidding! They chased us up the stairs! They don't even really have legs! We barely managed to escape!
velveteened: (} we're all mad here)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-27 05:57 am (UTC)(link)
( he puts his hands over gil's and

carefully pulls them off his shoulders )


I said okay. I'll be careful, I promise.
retraced: (this is the last time)

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-27 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[Wheeze......]

Good. Good.
velveteened: (} elliot pls)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-27 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
( he lets gil's hands drop and also lets him catch his breath.... )
retraced: (hoping for a frigid air)

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-28 05:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[Aaaand we're good. Now, where were we? Oh right, fussing.]

At any rate, you shouldn't play out in the snow for too much longer. It's nearly time for lunch.
velveteened: (} oh)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-29 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
What's for lunch?

( SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN FROLICKING IN THE SNOW )
retraced: (and store it deep inside of me)

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-29 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
[Oz, your priorities...]

Anything but fish.
velveteened: (} improve his shining tail)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-29 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
So in other words, you don't know either.
retraced: (waiting on the rain)

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-29 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
That's not what I mean at all!

[RUDE]

We're well stocked on everything, so I can make whatever you feel like.
velveteened: (} like a tea-tray in the sky)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-29 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
Even crepes?

( ONE DAY HE'S GETTING THEM!!!!!! )
retraced: any icon marked "please do not take" was given as a gift from my RP partners; please don't repost/use on tumblr (this floor is fucking interesting)

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-29 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
[He's about to suggest that maybe that isn't the healthiest lunch, but cuts himself off before he has a chance to say it. Everyone has been through a lot, maybe it's okay to let Oz indulge in a crepe lunch if it makes him happy.]

If that's what you want.
velveteened: (} well then)

1/

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-29 05:05 am (UTC)(link)
( — wait what. he was absolutely expecting a "no" in response to that. )
velveteened: (} swans into this thread unannounced)

2/3

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-29 05:06 am (UTC)(link)
( crepes are finally in sight )
velveteened: (} I WILL ALWAYS WANT U)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-29 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
( except, no, he pauses and glances upwards )

Really?
retraced: (it's not like I want to cook for you)

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-29 06:30 am (UTC)(link)
It might not be such a bad thing.

[Ahem.]

Just this once.
velveteened: (} i’m so sorry (no))

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-29 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
( he thinks rather than articulates how strange that is of gil, what the reason could be, and — grins, skipping ahead in the direction of the castle )

We could make it a Wednesday tradition!

( WEEKLY CREPE LUNCH YEAAAH )
retraced: (they've discarded their dreams)

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-29 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
That's not what 'just this once' means!

[OZ STOP TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIS GENEROSITY. Oz can skip ahead happily, he'll be following behind at a steady walking pace, hands in his pockets.]
velveteened: (} swans into this thread unannounced)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-29 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
( over his shoulder — )

Don't be stingy, Papa!

( and off he gets to have a head start on tugging the door open by the time gil catches up. )
retraced: (keep your eyes on me)

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-29 09:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Papa again-?!

[Oz. >': He grabs the door as it's held open, and in turn ushers Oz through it so that he can follow him in.]
velveteened: (} those ten minutes he was a student)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-29 10:30 pm (UTC)(link)
( and in they go! where it is blessedly warmer, making him tug at the scarf again. )
retraced: (nobody feels me cold)

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-29 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh, right. Maybe he should address the scarf now that he's secured it so well around Oz's neck. Good luck taking it off, young master.]

I thought the color would suit you.
velveteened: (} REALLY DUMB SMILES)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-30 03:50 pm (UTC)(link)
( wow this is really securely wound. DISCREET(???) TUGGING.... )

It's nice! ( greeeeeeeeeen. ) And warm, too.
retraced: (rubrubrub)

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-30 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[Lucky for him, Gilbert doesn't notice. Yet.]

It was time better spent...knitting than having to talk to those women at the first place we were forced to stay -

[He still has nightmares.]
velveteened: (} (ノ´ヮ´)ノ*:・゚✧)

[personal profile] velveteened 2013-12-30 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Really?

( yeah, he laughs, walking ahead of gil and turning so that he's walking backwards )

I thought they were nice!

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