Day 023

[allthekeys]

|| DAY 023: GENERAL The muted chime of dawn comes with an almost familiar rush of exhaustion, and the house-guests will find themselves falling asleep where they stand. The dream is not a restful one, and the role they find themselves assuming is a panicked one. Someone running, fleeing for their life. Desperate to escape a fate they do not wish to face. The area around them is familiar, the stairs of the Third House. They stumble, the wave of pain is real and present, but they do not stop. Something seizes them from behind, and the house-guests scream as the fear for their life rises within them. The dream ends abruptly, leaving them with the sense that something terrible has happened, but they are unable to follow any longer. The new dream they find themselves in now is passive, and almost peaceful. Two people nearly asleep, leaning against each other. The room is dark, and it is difficult to see the details. The young woman holds a bundle in her arms, and they seem peaceful. The restful stillness is almost hypnotic, and there are no sounds but the two of them breathing. "It's after dawn. You should sleep." The words are quiet, as though in respect for the early hour. The man reaches for her hand, entwining their fingers. "I just want to watch you both for a little while. I'll sleep soon." "Lucus..." They kiss, though the gesture is just as restful and sedate. "I love you. Go to sleep. I need more time." She frowns at him, but reaches to brush her thumb against his cheek. "I love you. Don't push yourself. We both need you." His lips brush against her palm, nose settling between her fingers, as though bracing himself in her presence. "How have I ever earned someone as amazing as you, Ruth?" She laughs, warm but tired. "Just by being yourself. Come to bed." The dream fades in the wake of the warmth, and any house-guests Under the Physical Age of Eighteen will find themselves waking up. For the adults in the house, the dream continues for a little while longer, though they will find themselves waking in a frustrated kiss. There is nothing passive about this dream, or these men. Neither gives an inch in the near fight, hands forcing their way under clothes to find skin, kisses breaking up only to allow them a chance to breathe. Between one of the desperate exchanges, one of the men speaks, voice breathless and strange. "This is the worst idea you've had since we got here." The other laughs clearly amused. "Then why are you kissing me?" That earns him a frustrated huff, and the kiss gains new purchase, clothes shed and cast to the side. Tongues tangle, and hands find purchase on sweaty skin, there's a grunt as they fall off of something, too distracted by the kiss to pay attention to their surroundings. The first speaker finally answers, even more breathless now. "You can’t give me stupid ideas if your mouth is busy." The other only laughs, drawing him back down into the kiss. That is clearly the only answer needed. The Adults or Any Character Physically Over The Age Of 18 will find themselves waking up in the Hot Springs. Their clothes are gone, their bags taken, and there is no clear memory of just how they got here. On the shore next to them is a small tray holding three items, one for each adult left in the waters. Each item has a small note attached to it, and the adults will find themselves following the commands without really thinking about it. There is no real force behind it, just a lack of desire to refuse. One is a small layered bite of cake that smells faintly of honey, with a chocolate drizzle. The label reads simply "eat me". Though little more than a mouthful, the cakes is quite possibly one of the best things they have ever eaten, melting on their tongue and overwhelming their sense of smell and taste. They will find themselves sucking every trace of it from their fingers, desperate for another bite. Though small, the bite of cake enhances their senses for the rest of the day. Everything they eat tastes better, and guests will find themselves more sensitive to smell. Next to it is a small open cup, holding a mouthful of clear liquid, labelled neatly with "Drink me". It, unlike the cake, smells and tastes like nothing. It does not even feel wet as they swallow it. But the effects of it are immediate. Their energy returns quickly, injuries healing without a mark left in their wake. Their eye sight sharpens, their hearing gets better. They fell awake, alert and well. A small, folded square of silk sits beneath the two items clearly meant to clean their hands once they have finished the small snack. Though not seen until they pick it up and dab their hands, it reads "touch me". The brush of silk against their skin seems unduly present, and they will find that any touch to their over sensitized skin lingers. As they rise, finally, from the relaxing waves of the hot springs, they will find piles of bathrobes waiting for them, as well as a few towels. The day is warm and lazy, and there seems to be no hurry to any of it. As though they have plenty of time to simply exist within the moments. Returning to the house will find that someone has laid out a rather elaborate breakfast spread for them. The Diamond Dining Room is for once serving its purpose. Plates are stacked neatly, and the smell is overwhelmingly decadent. Freshly opened bottles of wine and champagne sit chilled and waiting for the guests as they enter the house. A freshly heated teapot seems to be constantly kept at the perfect stage of readiness, and the flavorful ginger tea it holds only helps to make the offerings seem more desirable. The main table is weighted down with silver trays. Tiny, delicate bites of appetizers tease the senses and leave them wanting more, though nothing substantial seems to be on offer. Instead they will find bowls of honey drenched figs, roasted almonds, trays of light, flaky pastry, fresh fruit, several sorts of dipping chocolate and freshly made whipped cream. Spoons hold neatly placed mouthfuls of exotic dishes, some recognizable, and others completely foreign, all waiting to be sampled. Other trays hold neatly displayed oysters, brimming with liquid that smells faintly of lemon, small bites of food displayed on crackers or toothpicks, barely more than a mouthful of flavor, and cleverly displayed vegetables. A large, layered chocolate mousse cake requires only a tiny slice to overwhelm the heightened senses of the guests. Next to it sit freshly churned bowls of gelato, constantly refreshed to keep the heat from melting them. The presentation of the room is clearly meant to overwhelm them, and it does its job very well. The curtains and coverings have also been removed, and the house-guests will be hard pressed to find even an extra towel for additional coverage. The door leading to the other houses is locked, preventing them from leaving, but they have everything that they need within the house. In the upstairs area the Stalker Bedroom is solidly locked. Anyone listening at the door might hear the sound of someone softly crying, but nothing they do will open the door. The doors to the Silk and Velvet rooms stand open, the occupants sitting just inside the doorways. They are talking softly across the space, rolling a small carved wooden ball between them, and seem quite charmed by even this limited contact. They are similarly stripped, both wearing simple robes to cover themselves, though the man is lounging with a bit less care than his female companion. They seem willing to chat, or to be distracted with other things. The man has returned to the Wax Bedroom, though he has fallen into an exhausted curl on the bed. He seems to be sleeping peacefully, though his hand is still clearly injured. His chest rises and falls slowly, but he seems unwilling to wake for the moment. Those Physically Under The Age Of 18 will find themselves waking in the Ballroom. The doors leading into the rest of the house are solidly locked, but the hallway next to the Ballroom has been left open for them to explore. Though their own clothes and items have been taken from them, they have been left in what appears to be a plain white outfit consisting of a shirt and pants. Next to them is a small bag holding a swim suit and a towel. They wake with their own tray, though there only two items on it for them. The small glass of liquid will take their injuries away, leaving them whole and very energetic. The small bite of cake will enhance their senses, and makes the exotic breakfast spread all the more enticing. Younger Mukuro will wake with the curled form of a baby on his chest, though she does not appear to have been asleep. Someone had set up large buffet tables full of all sorts of exciting and tasty food, ranging in quality from simple to complex. Giant containers of cereal share space with delicate quiches. Giant containers holding breakfast sausages sit next to bowls of exotic and tasty fruit. Anything the guests might want can be found here, and they are encouraged to try everything. The buffet seems to be constantly refreshed, and nothing ever becomes stale or hard. But as exciting as breakfast might be, there are other adventures waiting for them. Down the hall a new room has opened, and those setting out to explore will find the reasons for the bathing suits. The Pool Room waits for them to explore it, and the water seems to have been prepared just for them. There are also showers to wash the grime of the past few days away. The Theater has also been cleaned, the stage scrubbed until the stained wood shines. The room smells heavily of dust and cleaner, and the chairs offer comfortable place for the people trapped in this part of the house to rest. The room is already occupied. There are several young children playing on the stage, sliding on the newly cleaned floors in stocking covered feet. They are rather quiet in their play, but are clearly enjoying themselves. Each is dressed in the same white uniform that the others trapped on this side of the house now wear. They are all clearly recognizable. Someone has retrieved a tray of bread, cheese, and fruit for them and between games they all pause to eat. The boy twin wears a cape, and chases the other children, clearly pretending to be some sort of monster. Though who is the one that is 'it' seems to change from moment to moment, and he is just as often chased himself. His sister laughingly dances out of range, vanishing between the heavy curtains as she teases her brother. Her eyes are bright and clear, and her hair wrestled back into what could potentially be referred to as a pony-tail if someone was being generous. Another child, a young one of Asian decent, who has appeared with these children and the cook before, is allowing Nicholas to hold his fingers, helping the young boy stand as they run from the 'monster'. Shion walks on steady legs, giggling openly as he runs away from the person that is clearly it. Though the boy twin will charge them, he always slows his steps so the pair has time to get away. The game is clearly arranged to make even the youngest children feel as though they have successfully escaped. A Crow has also joined the game, and often lands on one of the children, flaring out her wings for dramatic effect. The children are clearly thrilled to have her there, and each is cautious in handling her. She holds something shiny in her beak. The Ghost Kitten dashes from time to time from beneath the curtains to attack the ankles of the children as they run by. The Wax Daughter hides behind the curtains, watching the other children play. It is apparent from her expression that she wishes to join the play, but for the moment she is hesitant. It seems that the other children have tried to include her, for a small plate of food has been placed next to her, and someone has wrapped a feathered scarf around her neck. Lock, The Mute Ghost Girl and the Lonely Ghost Boy sit on the edge of the stairs, speaking quietly. The girl looks exhausted, barely remaining awake as she sits between the boys. She is pale, wane, and shivers from time to time. Lock has draped his coat around her for added warmth, and seems to be attempting to clean and tend the wound on her hand. A first aid kit sits open next to him, and his bag sits close against his side. The other boy is encouraging her to drink and to eat bits of fruit, though they both seem willing to let her take the matter at her own pace. They also block the way to the other children. Beneath them in the Orchestra pit is a patch of deeper darkness, though it seems harmless enough. Both groups will discover that the desire to use their powers has left them, though they don't feel blocked. It simply feels as though it is too much effort to do anything more than a normal human might, leaving them without the compulsion to rely on powers they may have formerly considered vital. Those who manage to use their abilities will find their attention shifting after a very short time, leaving them with little ability to maintain anything. They will not find themselves feeling at all alarmed by this, only a little bit disinterested in the matter. There are other things to hold their attention. All Clocks continue to behave oddly, though there no longer seems to be as many occurrences of self-winding, especially given the disappearance of the watches. Don, returned from the Art Enthusiast to pass the day with the other adults, seems to freeze any nearby clocks however, the hands winding toward four o'clock. Fortunately, communication seems to be returning to the house-guests. Language becomes easier to control, words returning to their proper usefulness. It takes longer than the span of morning for the ability to speak to return in full, but it quickly becomes easier and easier to make oneself understood. Though both groups can get to the Greenhouse they will find that the fog presses closes to the house, and is too thick to see much beyond the set path. Those in the first house will find that even stepping outside will cause the mist to begin to seep inside. There will be not travel between the houses today. Whatever the reason the house has for this strange split, or apparent encouragement for both groups to have a little fun, remains unseen for now. The areas around the guests themselves have been meticulously cleaned, and the lack of ability to see beyond prevents them from fitting in pieces of the larger picture. The whys will need to wait for later, for now it seems that there is little to do but to indulge a little. -------------------------------- Pool Room: The smell of chlorine is immediately obvious as the door opens, the echoes of laughter that still linger in the air set the tone for this large room. The far walls are windows, providing a view of the greenhouse, and the space is occupied by two large, Olympic sized pools, a smaller wading pool, and a large hot tub. Chairs line the sides, perfect for a parent to lounge in while their children play, and a wide variety of pool toys occupy the space around the pool, neatly stacked on shelves as though waiting to be used. One of the pools is clearly meant for diving, the deeper water almost too deep to see the bottom of. A diving board stands high above the pools, still swaying slightly as though someone has just jumped. The other pool is monogrammed with the initials M.H. The both pools are lined with an almost translucent blue tile which causes them to look deeper than they actually are. There are small specks of white scattered against the bottom almost innocently, and diving will reveal smooth, high quality pearls. They are flawless and seem to be worth quite a bit of money, though what good is that here? If someone stands perfectly still in the area, they might begin to hear noises caused by things that aren't there. Something splashes in the deep end of the pool, though no ripples will appear to show that anyone has entered the water. Occasionally one might hear soft laughter, as though someone stands just behind them, or the sound of wet feet running across the floor. Even when the room is otherwise empty, it seems that someone lingers in it. Doors that lead to a spa and a locker room are hidden in the back. A small closet holds bottles of chemicals, though the drain in the floor shows hints of other stains that have been washed away. Those who step away from the door might hear a soft tapping, as though someone is knocking very gently on the other side of the closed door. Opening it reveals the small room is empty. Locker Room: At the far end of the pools is a public locker room, four stalls for changing and an array of bathing suits from different time periods hanging on racks. The suits gathered there vary in style and size, and anyone who wishes to try can likely find what they are looking for. Beyond the collection of odds and ends are two large doors leading to public restrooms, though neither is marked with a gender sign. Six neatly kept stalls in each make this one of the most comfortable bathrooms to use, and large stonework sinks provides ample room to wash hands and faces. A small closet between the rooms holds a wide range of soaps and towels, allowing those who enter here to clean themselves. Both bathrooms have a shower room with multiple spigots to rinse chemicals off skin. In the bathroom on the left the showers seems to be a bit tetchy. They work fine, but the temperature knobs clearly need some adjusting, as often the hot water will turn on and refuses to turn off again. Anyone who showers alone in the bathroom on the left might find that they hear someone whispering behind them, though the words are often little more than a request to wash someone’s back. Strangely, when the showers are empty in the room on the right, those entering the room would insist that it sounds as though the showers are on. Anyone checking the room will find that the floors are dry and the room is entirely unoccupied. The mirrors often fog up for no reason, even if the water isn't on. Spa: Located through another door is a small day spa. Large panes of glass face the greenhouse, and much has been done to make the area as comfortable and relaxing as possible. Six folding chairs sit facing the window, allowing people to sunbathe if they wish. A record player sits in the corner, with a few greatest hits sitting under it. A closet in the corner is filled with mud masks, cucumbers, incense, oils, scented candles and fresh smelling towels. Three massage tables seem to be waiting only for patients, towels, oils and heated stones in easy reach. A sticky residue remains beneath one of the tables, as though oil has pooled on the table and been allowed to drip. It doesn't smell, but the rust brown color is rather alarming. Two tanning beds sit behind screens, offering some privacy for those who rest within them. Though the area has been kept meticulously cleaned, one of the beds still clearly holds an occupant. The corpse is now charred beyond recognition and makes it rather difficult to open the bed. Scented candles have cleared the smell from the air. A small door in the back leads to a small personal sauna, the wooden benches smoothly sanded to protect from splinters. The fire in the center is allows stoked, and the steam filling the room is rather relaxing. A clean stack of towels rests outside. A latch to keep unwary children from wandering into the room can easily be secured from the outside. It seems like a wonderful place to relax, and the faint strains of music do little to make the room feel unwelcoming.