suitedreams | WEEK ZERO: MINGLE

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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.

[ 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?

[Claude knowing a Ferrari is the best thing.]

Well, we just got here. They're probably not going to hand out clues as party favors just yet.

It'll take a few days or a week, if this is anything like my last experience.

[ anyway stares at the dino. jason are you twelve. ]

Uh. A week? Hopefully, we're out of here by the end of a week.

[this is very funny

also yeah. he clacks the dino.]

I mean, that'd be nice. I'm not expecting anything more than cutting our previous time be half though.

[ grabs his own dino

clacks back at him ]

[Hm. He looks exaggeratedly dubious.]

Uh. Clarify "previous time"? Your previous time wouldn't be, like... two and a half days...?

[He uses the dino clapper to

bite Claude's dino clapper.]

[ he knew it

he bites back ]

Try eight weeks.

Jesus H. Christ.

[we're full naming the lord's son out here!!! the dino attack falters]

How many of there were you? People died every day for eight weeks?

[ victory!! tries to knock it out of jason's hand ]

About 40 of us? And yeah, it was pretty terrible.

Hang on.

[He swings the dino back and out of the way with surprising quickness and skill. And then he tries to bop Claude on the forehead with it.]

That's fifty-six. You don't even have enough people for your one-a-day murder vitamins.

[ He can bop him. Claude frowns and will try to poke him in the ribs. ]

Murder vitamins...? Care to elaborate?

Sure.

[Stop that. He will deflect like his dino is a sword, but then he tries to disarm Claude from the dino weapon. Truly hilarious how it doesn't seem like he's putting much thought into how skilled he is at this.]

The last one of these I was in? People died every night for a week. The same thing happen to you? Every night?

Every night?

[ ??? He pauses enough that his dino stick can clatter to the ground. ]

Shit. It only happened once a week where I was.

[Hehe. He picks Claude's dino up with the mouth of his own dino.]

Lucky you. Ours lasted about five days or so, though. Did it make it better? Not when you had five bodies or so to find the next morning sometimes.