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.
retraced: (stfu Vincent)

[personal profile] retraced 2013-12-31 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[The penguins standing on top of the roombas are thrown off if they aren't smart enough to abandon them first, but Rosette is correct. They do explode, which makes Gilbert fear and despise them about five billion times more than he had before. He steps to the side and bumps her shoulder, urging her to run for the next flight of stairs while the penguins hopefully flee in the opposite direction.]

I can't believe they actually exploded...
soul_sister: (A stretch limo?)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2014-01-01 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[This time, as they get up the next flight of stairs, there's no whir, no angry honking.. It might... it might JUST be over. JUST IN CASE, she slams the door behind him as they pass and sits down against it, panting.]

Yeah... It wasn't supposed to do it the first time.
retraced: (you fucking--)

[personal profile] retraced 2014-01-01 11:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[He leans both hands against the wall to prop himself up while he catches his breath.]

We can't trust modern machinery any longer-!
soul_sister: (.....................................)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2014-01-02 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
Did you trust it to start with?! I bet there's some mad scientist cackling about it RIGHT NOW.
retraced: (waiting on the rain)

[personal profile] retraced 2014-01-02 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
Some of it is useful.

[He stands upright then, stretching his back and rubbing at one of his shoulders.]
soul_sister: (Neutral)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2014-01-02 07:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[She takes another second or two to gulp in air before she pushes up away from the door.]

Okay, maybe the texting thing...




.... what should we do about that floor....
retraced: (stfu Vincent)

[personal profile] retraced 2014-01-04 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
[Modern ovens, man. He can never go back.]

Can't we just lock the doors and hope they starve to death?
soul_sister: (.....................................)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2014-01-04 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
They haven't done it yet... There has to be a way they got in...

Maybe we have a penguin sympathizer...
retraced: (I'll be on your good side)

[personal profile] retraced 2014-01-04 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Penguin sympathizer?

[IS THERE A MOLE IN THEIR MIDST???]

You think - someone is breaking in and feeding them-?
soul_sister: (A stretch limo?)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2014-01-04 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Or they could be bullying someone here.
retraced: (carnival wig)

[personal profile] retraced 2014-01-04 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
You think the penguins are smart enough to blackmail others for food...?

[Okay this might be starting to sound a little improbable.]
soul_sister: (ALL I HEAR IS THAT YOU'RE A JERK)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2014-01-04 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Well not BLACKMAIL but ... LOOK they were riding CLEANING ROBOTS.
retraced: (no reply)

[personal profile] retraced 2014-01-04 08:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Oz's cat learned how to ride it too, and it's not that smart.

[He might be a little biased, though.]
soul_sister: (Maaaaaaybe you're a bitch)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2014-01-05 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
You don't think cats aren't bullies too?
retraced: (shocku anime style)

[personal profile] retraced 2014-01-06 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
[In the most OFFENDED AND YET TERRIFIED VOICE EVER:]

N-NO, CATS ARE DEFINITELY BULLIES!!
soul_sister: (That's NOT MINE)

[personal profile] soul_sister 2014-01-08 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
[THAT. That's some cat trauma, son.]

Right! .... see?



Anyway, lets get out of here before they figure SOMETHING ELSE out.
retraced: (waiting on the rain)

[personal profile] retraced 2014-01-08 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[DEEP BREATH...]

I guess I'll get back to cleaning now...if you see any other penguins in the house, try to trap them in a room. And leave a sign up to warn everyone. Something like...'Penguin infestation: Don't open this door'.