[ 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

[timehalt]

My--[ OH. ] Oh! Oh, it's nothing, I just spilled the coffee.

[ And soup. And forgot her gloves before she left. (For which she is thankful, the soup would have ruined them). ]

[retraced]

[He takes a sip of coffee before answering, frowning through his exhaustion.]

You should run them under some cold water...

[Slowly, he starts to rise to his feet so that he can guide her back to the kitchen sink.]

[timehalt]

Ah--

[ NOPE NOPE. This is Miranda hurrying over to push him back into his seat. Concern and distress etched in ever feature. ]

Please don't worry about it! You should rest. I'll get you anything you need!

[retraced]

[Luckily, he doesn't spill his coffee as he's shoved back into the chair.]

Oof-! [He shakes his head to clear it.] N-no, it's more important to take care of your hands!

[timehalt]

My hands are fine! You need to rest!

[ She's determined on this! Sit there and look pretty until you feel well enough to get up stairs! ]

[retraced]

Taking care of your hands is definitely more important!

[And thus begins a fuss-off that can only end in tears.]

[timehalt]

Not when you're about to collapse whenever you stand! You need to think of your own health first!

[ fight me! ]

[retraced]

I can stand!

[Except then he does the exact opposite, flopping back into the chair with his eyes half-closing against his will. Another shake of his head and he brings the cup to his lips again, drinking the coffee as quickly as he can without chocking or spilling.]

[timehalt]

[ Victoryy!! ]

P-please be careful! The coffee isn't going to run away. You need to rest and relax before we should see if you can move.

*choking my typos are so quality

[retraced]

[Shhhh.]

...Sorry. [He murmurs, the half empty cup set back down into his lap. His eyes close and his head droops forward again, words slurring back together. He might just fall asleep for good this time, despite his (and her, mostly her) best efforts.]

Thank you for your help. I really am sorry.

[timehalt]

[ There's a sense of victory, even if there's little reason for it. Miranda gently takes the cup from his hands and places it on the table before returning her attention to the exhausted man. Tentatively, but firm enough to keep him upright, she places her hands on his shoulders. ]

Careful. If you sleep here you'll hurt worse when you wake up. Do you think you can make it upstairs? Or to a lounging chair?

[retraced]

I don't mind sleeping here...

[He doesn't plan on sleeping long anyhow, but his words trail off before he can add that to the end of his sentence. His head lulls to one side, cheek coming to rest against one of her hands currently occupying his shoulder.]

1/4 SORRY

[timehalt]

[ As much as Miranda doesn't want to pressure, a chair really isn't a good spot to sleep (personal experience has proved this time and again) so she really feels she must be insistent on the bed bit.

At least until his head lolls onto her and she freezes up mid-syllable.]

[timehalt]

[ Oh.





God.


What should she do?? ]

[timehalt]

[ What is he--does he--is he okay? What should she do? Is he dead?


She should--she should check, right? She should move and make sure he's at least a little more comfortable and not-dead and--

but--but-should she wake him up? He was so tired and-and he should sleep! She can't disturb him when he needs it so badly. She can't be so selfish! ]

4/4

[timehalt]

[ It'll only be for a little while, she's sure! He can't sleep forever and her hand can't be very comfortable!

She just has to wait it out! It's a small price to pay for someone's well being, she just has to be patient. She can do that!

Surely it won't be very long to wait. ]

[retraced]

[He's definitely not dead! He's breathing and everything! And he doesn't even snore, what a gentleman. Only problem is that it's been days since he slept last, so this little nap might just end up taking a while.

Get comfortable or steal your hand back quick, Miranda!!]

[timehalt]

[ She will





stand here


until he decides to wake up. ]

[retraced]

[Miranda is lucky that Gilbert is a light sleeper and doesn't require much to keep going. Though by the time he finally stirs and lifts his head, her hand has probably gone numb. Probably.

He sits up straighter and yawns, but doesn't open his eyes just yet. It's so tempting to just go right back to sleep in this new position.]

[timehalt]

[ Pins and needles, pins and needles. Her fingers spasm involuntarily on his shoulder as soon as he moves, blood rushing back into abused flesh. She squeaks as it happens, horrified she's woken him and clamps her hands over her mouth to stop the apology already at her lips.

Go back to sleep! Or at least keep your eyes closed while she takes you up to a bed! ]

[retraced]

[His sleepy, half awake mind mistakes the sound of a squeak for something else. Mice invade what's left of his dream, large rodents floating overhead, eyes stitched shut. His little brother's Chain, the one he'd formed a contract with in order to hide Gilbert from another layer of the truth.]

Vincent? [He mumbles as he sits up and rubs at his eyes.]

[timehalt]

[ Vincent?

Miranda's brows furrow, trying to place a face to the name, but she's never met any Vincents, she surely doesn't look like one.

Her first instinct is to hide--she'd disturbed him, it would only be right for him to be angry with her. As uncomfortable as it may have been, he should have been able to rest longer if she hadn't messed it up. But her obligation to see him properly cared for--and apologize again--has her hesitating, indecision making her bite her lip and wring her hands once more.

Please don't be angry with her! ]

[retraced]

[His hand drops and he opens his eyes all the way, and finally it occurs to him that there is no mouse. There's no little brother. He's not even at home, he's still here in this castle in the middle of an ubiquitous snowstorm and - oh, there's Miranda standing there.]

M-Miranda-?! [Power nap starting to fade, he finally recalls just how he ended up in this chair to begin with. A few questions immediately come to mind: how long has been been asleep, and more importantly, how long had she been watching him?!]

[timehalt]

[ Excuse you, she's only been caught stalking once.

She startles at her name, inwardly cringing. ]

Ah...good morning?

[retraced]

Morning?

[Suddenly - panic.]

Is it already morning?! D-did I sleep that long?!

[THAT THING HE WAS MIXING BEFORE IS SURELY RUINED BY NOW.]