all_inclusive | Entries tagged with zz: frannie goldsmith

Any entries earlier than this were pre-reboot.

Though the main dining hall didn't bear the typical Valentine's Day decoration, it had been changed enough to subtly reflect the mood through small fairy lights hanging from the walls and twinkling in the dimmed light of the grand room. Each place was set with the finest silver cutlery and adorned with bold red plates. Up and down the table, seats awaited their guests to enjoy the five course meal, roses set in vases every few feet along the table.

At the head, a string quartet band played quietly so as not to disrupt the conversation and waiters kept wine glasses full, empty plates cleared, and worked to keep the mood high. As the sun began to set, the dinner began to be served.

MENU

First Course: Breadcrumb Crusted Zucchini Flowers w/ Shiitake Mushroom & Bacon Hash served with chilled avocado soup in a shotglass tumbler

Salad: Bacon, Romaine Lettuce & Tomato Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette

Second Course: Duck & Cheese Ravioli with Purple Eggplant & Marinara Sauce infused with duck fat served with a 2010 Darioush Chardonnay, Napa Valley

Main Course: Maple Glazed Bison served with grilled peaches and herbed creamy ricotta polenta served with Pascual Toso 2007 Alta Reserva Las Barrancas Vineyards Malbec

Dessert: Walnut Baklava with Fried Bananas and Chocolate Sauce served with Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2002 Champagne

of_mirkwood

It called to him now. Never before standing upon the decks of an ancient ship had the sea called to Legolas the way it called him now and there was little he could do but heed it. The armies of Gondor and Rohan camped now along the great field called Pelennor, preparing for a final stand against Sauron, and while his head should have been in strategy, instead it was lost at sea. This was madness.

Legolas understood now why the Elves had flocked from Middle Earth in droves. No longer were they tethered to this land and concerned with the perils of it. No longer did the matters of Men and Dwarves and Halflings cross their minds on a regular basis. Instead, it was Valinor and her white ships that called them and they answered it, marching without cease into the west.

Legolas knew there were many things left to be done before he could join them. He had made a pact with the company of the Ring and intended to keep it, intended to see Aragorn, son of Arathorn, installed as king of all Men. Sauron's grip in the east was too strong yet to give in to temptation and he tried to use that to guard his mind and serve as focus for the days to come. Still, as it had never been difficult before now, it was a strange shift in the way he thought and it almost seemed he was dreaming awake.

He pushed open the flap of his tent, intending to take in the night air on this eve of battle. Elves did not need to sleep in the traditional sense of Men and Dwarves and Legolas had already had his fill of rest this evening. Tonight, he sought the stars and their company and thought to commune with those long past. But as he stepped through the opening in the tent, a curious thing happened - there were no stars above him.

Instead, he was in a hall of some sort, closed in and carpeted without view of the night sky. There was a doorway there too, plain and unassuming, and Legolas wondered how this was possible. Was this some Elven magic or was it something older, something of wizards who trod the earth long before Elves came to prominence. Was this something of Numenor, now twisted to do Sauron's will? He knew not.

With a hand at the hilt of his knife, he turned his head a bit, listening for any signs of danger. Hearing nothing obvious, he pressed on, trying to make sense of this mad, new world.

[[Find an Elf wandering the halls at night!]]

ogunquit_girl

Frannie couldn't stop staring at the sleeping baby in her arms. She watched every intake of breath, every exhale. Her pulse spiked when his little face twisted into any expression other than serene sleep.

She was waiting for him to cough. She was expecting him to sneeze.

Even though she knew the flu wasn't here - it was contained to their world and it hadn't followed them here on their clothes (even if it had, she'd burned hers shortly after coming through to the Nexus, even the time she'd just walked into her bedroom in Maine for a few minutes before backing out in horror.

Still, Frannie watched her son sleep, listened to the soft silence of breathing unencumbered by snot or phlegm or whatever had choked the life out of her world. Against every odd there was, she was here, Stu was here, and her baby had survived arguably the most stress filled pregnancy ever, to arrive a respectable 6 pounds 9 ounces, with a pair of lungs announcing his arrival. Loudly.

If Frannie could remember how to pray, she would have right then and there.

Gathering type post - tag Frannie, tag each other (feel free to top level with Frannie asleep if you want, or just outside the room). If your pup saw the stationery post, feel free to jump to the conclusion that the hotel's only pregnant woman popped.)

east_texas_stu

Stu was beginning to feel restless. It had been several days since his fever had finally broken and he had become aware of things again. He felt mostly recovered from the pneumonia, but it still didn't mean he and Tom could quite move on again yet. It would be pretty much impossible not to overdo walking on the leg to a point, once they got back on the road, but it was best to make sure it would hold up period before they started off again. That meant waiting here a little bit longer.

The main thing on his mind, naturally, was Frannie. He wanted to be there when she had the baby, and it was hard to tell whether he'd make it or not. Worse, he kept having nightmares about the Dark Man. He couldn't get that evil, deep, "BREECH BIRTH" voice out of his head, along with the worries they'd both had about whether or not the baby would have the flu when it was born. If Tom could drive, it wouldn't have been a problem, but Stu was the only one that could, and so, they waited.

At first, they'd both camped out in the lobby, but after Stu didn't need constant looking after anymore, he'd moved to a room to be more comfortable. Time was spent between his room and the lobby, both for eating and for finding ways to pass the time and not get bored. Right now, he was leaving his room to come out, but the hallway he came into was decidedly not the same motel he'd just been in. It was a lot fancier and older looking, the kind of place you'd probably have to spend a lot to stay in.

Okay, what just happened? he thought. He thought maybe he was dreaming, but the ache and too-often present itching in his leg made that dubious. He turned back to the door, or what had been a door, but it was gone now, which made him more confused and a little bit afraid. Was this something of the Dark Man's? He'd never been known to do anything like this before, but no one really knew what all he was capable of.

Whatever it was, all Stu could do now was keep walking and brace himself for whatever was waiting for him, he guessed.

concierge

A large, decorative sign situated prominantly in the lobby reads:

The Nexus Hotel
proudly presents its
ANNUAL NEW YEARS EVE PARTY

Event Location
Nexus Premises
6 PM - ?

1920's themed dress recommended, but not required for all guests

The sumptuous theme of elegance that typically surrounds the Nexus Hotel is out in full force on the evening of the 31st. With efficiency and very little said, a group had entered and snapped white tablecloths on long tables in the main lobby of the hotel, turning side-rooms into similar displays of elegance. Then came the food, followed by the alcohol, and the guests were quick to follow.

Drinks were on the lawn, in the hotel, making their way into the hands of party-goers who wore shining, shimmering, jewelled gowns of all eras, but only those from the 1920’s hung on a rack in the luggage room where hotel guests entered to check in and found themselves amidst a welcoming committee like none before.

In the skies between the hotel and the stars, fireworks shot off in hourly intervals, sparkling and accompanied by a great bang that the music from the band does its’ best to drown out (to no avail). And under those shimmering lights, the party for New Years Eve roared. It was not the only party, though, as a door had been propped open that led directly to the shining lights of Las Vegas, the gleaming neon of the strip beckoning any guests daring enough to try their hand at games of chance and luck.

digyourman

18 November 2013 | The Nexus

The total lack of Room 5:678 was more evidence than Larry really needed, the plain fact of it sharp like a blade. For a long time he had stood in the empty hall, head bowed and hand splayed against the wallpaper where a door had once been, unsure if he was trying to conjure Nick from the drywall or keep his knees from buckling. Probably a little of both.

Eat your pie, Frannie. Every last bite.

rangerbecket

When he sleeps, he remembers.

It’s been five years since Raleigh lost Yancy and he still wakes up sometimes in the middle of the night (or afternoon, as it was just a nap this time and not overnight) thinking his brother should be there, that they should be cutting up and finishing each others’ sentences and suiting up to go fight kaiju. Instead, there’s an empty hole where Yancy used to be and Raleigh’s not sure that it’s ever going to be filled in again and, more importantly, Raleigh’s not sure he wants it to be. As fucked up as it is, this is the only time he gets to see and hear Yancy anymore and he clings to it even if it’s probably not the healthiest choice.

It seems to help to have a purpose to fill his days besides welding on the wall. He’s glad Pentecost roped him back into being a Ranger even if he’d been against it at first because at least he’s fighting for something instead of just fighting so he doesn’t have to feel anything.

The hotel is a frustrating stumbling block in that process because while he’s here, he gets lulled into thinking it’s safe. There’s plenty to eat; Raleigh spent his whole first day gorging himself on meat and bread and shit that they just can’t get back home with all the rationing. There’s no televisions blaring about the latest kaiju attack, about people dying painful deaths from Kaiju Blue, about the military arguing whether or not Jaegers are worth the hassle when they can just build a wall to keep them out. The hotel is a bubble, safe, and Raleigh has to constantly remind himself that this is temporary. This isn’t something he can let himself get used to.

He’s pretty sure he’s not going to go back to sleep any time soon so he ends up pulling on a shirt and sliding into his boots, wandering without a purpose. There’s dozens and dozens of rooms in this place and he’s pretty sure he’ll never explore them all. He winds up in a room with a couple pool tables and thinks maybe this is a decent way to pass the time until the memories of Yancy fade a little.

He racks the balls and pulls out a cue, thoughtfully chalking the tip while he tries to decide how he wants to play, which angles to hit. This had always been a fun exercise with Yancy and had almost always ended in a draw; when you Drift as much as he did with his brother, you almost start sharing thoughts outside it. Raleigh nods at the person closest to him, asking if they want to start a game.

“I call stripes. Ten, corner pocket.”

It’s a welcome distraction.

princehonorable

The deep level of mistrust that David holds for his current predicament knows no bounds.

For one, finding himself aboard the Jolly Roger with a pirate, the evil queen intent on making his wife's life an unhappy hell, and his distressed daughter? Not good. Watching Rumplestiltskin evaporate into thin air and doing god knows what where he can't see him? Even more not good. Walking through the Captain's cabin door and stumbling when his sea legs give out from under him because there's no more ocean to compensate for? Yeah, that part is what David's really trying to get used to.

He doesn't have his sword because he'd been looking for a map and didn't think he'd need it to defend himself, but Hook had apparently rigged himself up a portal that led from the seas outside Neverland to this strange building. He'd arrived just as a party was breaking up and he'd watched odd people in mad costumes filter out through the hotel -- though some people went through doors and never came back -- and try as he might, the best answer that he could get out of anyone was this and only this: Nexus Hotel.

He thought he'd seen a familiar face or two, but they were only passing by and wouldn't stop to answer his questions, which is how he's found himself sitting at the bar, chocolate milk in hand and staring forward as he tries to think up a plan.

He will always, always find his family, but sometimes it seems like the universe truly enjoys testing him.

sluttylyingliar

Rachel hasn't really been brave enough to venture out of her room until now. She's managed to get Danny to bring her as much food as she's been able to keep down as she suffered through the gross and completely undignified detox process which doesn't even seem to be over yet but enough is enough. She looks like shit and she needs real food and she needs to see for herself, through clear eyes, that she's really stuck on some kind of magic hotel grounds.

She pulls on one of his oversized t-shirts he'd lent her and a pair of boxers and slips out the door, wondering where he is. He keeps insisting he goes back to Hawaii, where he lives in between being at the magic hotel, but it all sounds like some kind of unending acid trip. Hell, maybe she's dead and since she was really bad, this is her purgatory.

If it is, at least it has a salon. She wanders, wide eyed through the hallways as the place gets more and more grand. She's suddenly and painfully aware that she's not wearing makeup, her messy hair is piled in a bun and she's wearing a crazy male cop's clothes. She wraps her arms around her middle, the cash Danny'd given her clutched tight in her fist as she tries to decide where to start. This was stupid, she should just go back to the room.

She spins on her heel, eyes starting to water and promptly slams into someone, knocking her on her ass. Fan-freaking-tastic.

Open to all! This is Rachel Gatina's debut. She's wearing an oversized t-shirt and a pair of boxer shorts. Visible track marks on her arms. She just slammed into her pup. She's very slight and about 5'5"

ogunquit_girl

Frannie wasn't sure how long she stood in her bedroom with the door handle in her hand. All she knew was that her jaw ached from holding it open for so long.

She also knew that she was standing in her bedroom. Her old one, in Ogunquit, with the same posters and trophies it had held since she left for college years ago. A lifetime ago. Before the end of the world.

Eventually, when her brain processed what she was seeing, she started thinking. As much as she wanted to rush out into the house, and into...into the garden...she was afraid of what she'd see there, too. Afraid she'd see her father, alive but sick. Afraid she'd see his grave.

Afraid she'd see that it had been disturbed somehow.

Afraid that if the door she still held closed, she'd be stuck here in her old house alone again. Alone in Maine with everyone she knew on the other side of the country. Alone in the world.

Once the first tremors of fear passed her, she realized something else. She was standing in a world that had been toxic to 99% of it's residents....and she held the door open, spilling that air into the hotel.

Before that thought even finished forming, Frannie stepped back into Nexus and slammed the door as hard as she could and pressed her back against it.

"Anyone got a hammer? Some nails maybe?" she called out to anyone that could hear her voice.

ogunquit_girl

Two months. They'd only been here two months. How was it possible that so little time had passed? Two months was nothing, time wise. Half a semester. If she'd been at UNH, that would mean midterms were upon her.

It was exam time, all right. The ultimate pass-fail. She laughed a little and the sound was so hollow and scary, she immediately stopped.

Frannie had told Lucy that she was tired, and she was, so Lucy had left her to go home to Joe, to find her own way through the weeks (months?) of waiting ahead of them. She hadn't been lying when she said it - she was tired. Tired from the pregnancy, tired from the often boring, sometimes terrifying, trip across the country. Tired of trying to set up a government with nothing more under her belt than a politically active father and three years at UNH in pursuit of an English Lit degree. Tired of watching everyone she'd known her whole life swell up and die, strangling on their own snot.

The kind of tired that didn't go away with a nap, or even a good night's sleep. The kind of tired that was still there, waiting for you when you woke up and reading to jump right back onto your back.

With a sigh, Frannie walked through their bedroom door, thinking that she'd start with a nap, or an attempt at one. It was something, anyway.

She stopped when she found herself in a hotel lobby.

What the fuck?

The doorknob she'd been holding just seconds before had vanished under her grip and the hallway that should have been behind her was gone. There was nothing. Just this hotel lobby. A voice in the far corner of her mind said she was dreaming again. That any minute now, the Dark Man would appear at the other end of the room with his coat hanger. The spike of fear was real and, thankfully, fleeting. She'd had enough dreams in the past two months to know how her dreamscape felt. This didn't feel like that.

"Hello?" She out to the emptiness and tried to not be afraid of what might answer back.

All Inclusive

Reboot Marker

Gathering: Valentine's Day

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From One Hotel To Another

Gathering: NYE Gala

In the stillness of remembering what you had.

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and straight on til morning

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