WEEK ZERO: MINGLE

[guestservices]

W̴͍̎E̴̝̊E̸͚͝K̸͕̿ ZERO: MINGLE

(35 ḡ̴̻u̷͌͜ê̴̯s̶̢͑t̵̻͝s̴̡̐ ̴c̴h̴e̶c̴k̷e̶d̸ ̶i̴n̴)

Needless to say, marble isn't exactly the most comfortable surface to sleep on. Do you even remember falling asleep? Maybe not, but the moment your eyes flutter open and the lingering stardust fades, you come into consciousness with the distinct feeling that your dreams were very important.

You vaguely remember a shadowed hand, the pen and the scroll in its grip as the terms and conditions glow softly before you. You can't quite remember the details, the words blurring and fading fasting the longer you try, but you come to a conclusion rather quickly:

-Someone you care about is in trouble and their life is now your responsibility.
-You have signed a contract to provide entertainment to the Host in exchange for their safe return.

Your other memories begin to settle now that you're more awake. You remember that this isn't the first time you've been swept away for a game by someone else's design. You remember what those games entailed, too, but as the pieces click together you get the sense that murdering everyone around you isn't a solution. It won't get your hostage back sooner. It will only end tragically for everyone involved.

So instead, perhaps it's time to take in your surroundings. Where the hell even are you now? The marble floor of the lobby is still cool to the touch, and the front desk is before you with several keys on hooks against the wall. Each of them includes a keychain with two small, clear star-shaped crystals embedded at the bottom. Too bad you can't seem to remove the keys just yet! Guest accommodations aren't quite ready.

Ah, right. About that. You aren't alone! After all, what's the fun in playing a game by yourself? Should one try to actually count the keys hanging on the wall, you'll find there are 35 in total. You can also learn more about them should you look at the leather-bound book bolted to the front desk. Though some of them may look a bit different, seeing how everyone gathered in the lobby is dressed to the nines. What happened to your other clothing? Worry not. You do want to be presentable at the front desk, don't you?

Speaking of the front desk, while you aren't able to retrieve your keys or even leave the ground floor right now, you will find small gift boxes scattered around the desk as a complementary gift for each guest. Inside these boxes, you will find:

-A flask. Those of legal drinking age will find it filled with a sweet wine, and those underage will find juice of some kind.
-A shaving kit
- A single aspirin
-A keychain
-A condolence card
-A sheet of temporary tattoos
-A small bag of jerky
-A compact mirror with a cute pattern on the outer casing

No other items are on your person even if you were holding onto them prior to your arrival. Perhaps the bellhop has already taken your luggage for you?

But despite the front desk hosting a small cluster of bells, ringing them doesn't seem to draw the attention of anyone. The bells cannot be removed from the desk, but the hotel staff appears to be occupied with other tasks.

It looks as though you're on your own for now until maintenance is finished. But it's just like the first time, isn't it? Get to know the other guests, start asking questions, and settle in for your stay.

You can check-out any time you like, but you can never leave...

N̸A̵V̴I̶G̶A̶T̴I̴O̸N̷.̷

█ LOCATIONS █ STATUSES █ PROFILES █ AUDIENCES
█ REPORTING █ PRIVATE CONVOS █ MURDER

Comments

[unrecked]

[Here he is, minus the dumbass face piece. But still with the dumbass skunk stripe hair? Tch.]

i. gift shop

[He is popping that single aspirin and dry swallowing it already, it's fine.

And he has also confiscated a dinosaur grabber. He's clacking it open and closed by the jewelry case, placing it down on top of it while he leans over to peer at the goods. He whistles.]

When did extortionists start getting so schmancy?

ii. courtyard

[He's vibing around the statues, trying to see how far the stolen sticky hand will go in his attempt to slap the faces of some of the marble. Here and there, he takes a swig of the flask from the gift box. Occasionally, he can get a good pap-pap in on the statues.]

Wouldn't worry about the gate. Already tried. You just come right back. Can't have you leaving before the party, can they?

b

[technocool]

[ she's just crouching in a corner watching this ]

Well, at least we don't have to worry about the oven on fire or the ladder gone from the pool yet.

[unrecked]

[Why are there swords AND kids?!?!?! There is no reason for him to be surprised about this, but here he is.]

Yet. You've jinxed us. It'll be like the Sims. [He pauses, and then slaps the sticky hand in her direction.] Poof, the ladder is gone, and we drown.

They can put our little gravestones with the statues.

[technocool]

[ just wait for the aliens, jay ]

Can't jinx us if it's a potential given. [ taps her temple ] Here's hoping I get something better than 'got possessed one week in' this time.

ii

[evocationary]

Figures!

[she peeks up at him.]

You stole my idea. I was literally coming out here to throw sticky hands at things.

[unrecked]

Too slow. You snooze, you lose. You're really misusing your advantages, you know. You could probably get away with throwing them at some of the actual people here.

[Pointedly sort of bounces the sticky hand in her direction at her.]

[evocationary]

Oh, been there, done that. Who's slow now?

[she's also drinking. i forgot to mention this.] I'm glad that of all the things I liked about the last place I was in, it was the hot tub and the sticky hands that followed me. It's like I can't be free.

I swear to Fantasy Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson if someone puts Cheeze-Whiz in the hot tub again I'm going to lose it, though.

i

[shaft]

What do you think the extortion is funding?

[ Watches Jason play with the dino stick. ]

[unrecked]

[Clacking the dino head at Claude as he talks.]

Dunno. An organized crime ring. A new Ferrari. An eight-million dollar mansion. Maybe a multi-billion dollar laser satellite that could destroy the planet. [Nice.] But, you know, I think it might just be funding simple sociopathic entertainment by the sound of it.

Wouldn't mind finding out, though.

[shaft]

[ Claude actually knows a Ferrari is, but "satellite" goes over his head.

But he thinks he gets the gist. ]

Neither would I, but it's hard to find any leads, isn't it?

ii

[stillnot]

So we can't get out.

[ that's not surprising. still, clem continues to look at the gate! ]

But can anyone else get in?

[unrecked]

[NOT MORE KIDS. HELP HIM. He's going to ascend.]

Nope. [Why does he and Clementine not sound surprised by this.] Can't say, but I sure hope not.

There's enough people here already to get bloodthirsty. We don't need anyone else.

[stillnot]

Maybe this time it'll be different.

[ she. rolls her eyes after saying this. LOL CAN YOU IMAGINE? ]

i

[wisterin]

[ stop taking aspirin already. that's not fine? it's worrying.

her brows are furrowed for half a second before her ever present smile appears. ]

I don't know who they think they're trying to fool by being fancy.

[unrecked]

[STOP? sometimes you are pre-emptively taking care of a headache?!]

Maybe they just like it to be done in style. [Hmmm.] Could fool any of the stupid ones of us, I guess.

gift shop

[cuedoves]

[ i, sipp, am so angry that he dry swallowed. drink water, jason!!! ]

It's probably fake. Besides, this whole thing is like... magic, or whatever.

[unrecked]

[This lil grumpy Damian Wayne stand-in. Lookit him.]

That sounds exactly like something a poor sap with a bad childhood who had never seen magic would say.

i

[overruns]

[ schmancy... ]

I don't see why they need to go to such lengths for 'entertainment.'

[unrecked]

[schmancy]

Come on. Don't you get dressed up to kill people? [Dry.] Kidding. [Or is he. He is a Bat... Don't worry about it.]

Usually people who like bloodsport aren't necessarily into seeing a bunch of half naked people throwing fists in the mud.

courtyard

[fishingforcompliments]

[sighs heavily]

I suppose simply being able to walk out of here would be too easy.

[unrecked]

[Walking out. Funny!]

You going to sign up for a little "fun" then turn around and try to leave without getting what you came for?

ii

[agleam]

...Yeah, that figures.

[he still sighs, though.]

That'd be too easy.

[unrecked]

You were expecting easy? Cute.

[He idly bounces the sticky hand up in the air above his head like a teenage boy.]

I can pick you up and try throwing you over the top if you want.

i

[toesies]

[handcuffs you until captcha kicks us out]

I guess extortion turned out to be a pretty lucrative business? Or maybe they're just made out of zirconia, and whatever little bitch is watching us right now likes feeling fancy.

[unrecked]

[screams at how close it is now]

Oh. I like the way you think. [About the little bitch, he means. It unfortunately makes him snort.] I'd have loved to have been a fly on the wall when they called to make the reservations for this place.

"Hey, yeah, I need to rent out your hotel. We're hosting an extortion game party with about thirty-something people."