[ 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

[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.]

[timehalt]

Eh? [ WAIT, DON'T PANIC. ] N-no! Not at all!

[retraced]

[TOO LATE.]

What time is it? H-how long have you--

[Blink.]

...You were here the whole time?

[timehalt]

[ Oh god, oh god. ]

I-I don't--yes, but, i-it was only an hour or so--

[ Oh, god, she feels awful. She was supposed to leave? ]

I-I'm very sorry! I didn't know!

[retraced]

[An hour. Okay, an hour isn't so bad at all, but...that she stayed that long, even for just an hour...

(If only he realized that she'd left a slight imprint of fingers on his cheek where he'd been exhausted enough to sleep on her.)

He stands up, head bowed apologetically.]

I'm sorry if I made you worry.

[timehalt]

Eh? [ Why is he-? Everything is her fault! ] N-no! Not at all! I'd rather you sleep on me than exhaust yourself so much like that! I--I may not be very comfortable, but as long as you get some rest I don't mind at all!

1/2

[retraced]

No, it was more trouble for me to sleep on you than for--

2/2

[retraced]

...S...S-sleep on--?!

[He stopped panicking too soon, it seems.]

[timehalt]

[ Oh dear. ]

Ah, yes? I-I didn't mind! You were very tired! It wasn't a trouble!

[ Much. ]

[retraced]

[And then this day became the worst day of his life. Until tomorrow.]

I'm sorry you should have just shoved me over - I'm so sorry!

[timehalt]

E-eh? Why would I--

[ NO STOP BEING UPSET. WHY ARE YOU UPSET. ]

I couldn't possibly do that! It really was no trouble! Th-there's no need to apologize! At all! If anyone should, it's me! I should have asked to get you somewhere more comfortable first!

[retraced]

But - there was nothing you could have done about that! I was the one who pushed myself too far and - besides I'm too heavy to carry anywhere, so-!

[Going for the Self Blame Olympic gold here.]

It's my fault, please forgive me!

[timehalt]

N-not at all! I should have been more insistent! You can't help falling asleep sometimes!

Th-there's no need to apologize! I really didn't mind!

[retraced]

I didn't hurt you somehow, did I?

[He might have flailed about in his sleep or something. It could happen!]

[timehalt]

Wha-? Of-of course not!

[ Other than the loss of blood-flow for a bit. ]

You were a perfect gentleman!

[retraced]

[Oh, well if she puts it that way...

No, it's still embarrassing. Even more so, actually.]

Ah... [He replies whilst doing his best impression of a tomato.]

Are you sure...?

[timehalt]

[ P-please let the condition of his face mean he isn't upset anymore...! ]

Yes, of course! All you did was sleep!

[retraced]

[His face is still embarrassed, but at least now it's slightly relieved as well. Slightly.]

I should...ah, rather, is there anything I can do to make it up to you...?

[Since he can't very well give her back that hour of her life that she wasted trapped beneath his face.]

[timehalt]

Eh? What for? You didn't do anything that would need to be made up for.

[retraced]

You don't think so...?

[Because it's pretty obvious to him that accidentally sleeping on someone and trapping them in place for an hour constitutes an apology of some kind!]

[timehalt]

Of course not! You were resting, and you'd looked so tired before. I couldn't have been very comfortable, but I'd much rather you sleep than exhaust yourself further.

[retraced]

You couldn't have been that uncomfortable if I slept for so long.

[#logic]

[timehalt]

[ ...what does that mean ]

I-it wasn't very long! I'm sure you could have slept much longer in a proper bed.

S-speaking of which, ah, aren't you still tired? You should rest properly as soon as you can.