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

[highestheim]

a) hewwo

[ fit check! but yes, here is a tall, slightly tired-looking man who may look vaguely familiar to some other hotel guests... if that familiar person was about ten years and inches taller than the last time they saw him. he takes a second to take in his surroundings—and maybe another to pat himself down once he realizes he's not wearing his uniform—before turning to the rest of the lobby with a cautious, maybe a little curious, expression. ]

...So it wasn't just a dream. [ he frowns. ] Again, after all these years... and now it's not just my fate that's on the line. Just for someone's entertainment... it's all sounding so familiar.

b) growing up?

[ once he's a little more situated, find hope flipping through the guestbook, giving the pages a brief glance. occasionally, he stops on one he seems to recognize... only to continue turning to the next page and moving on. eventually, he lifts his head to see someone else trying to take a peek! ]

Sorry to bother you, but I'm trying to gather some information. If you don't mind me asking, how long has it been since your last... kidnapping experience?

[ ... or, with the book open to his own profile, catch him reading over the entry with a dismissive yet scrutinizing eye until he gets to his items, at which point his expression turns incredulous. his voice loses its cordial, almost professional tone for a second and there's a flash of his more indignant younger self as he exclaims: ]

Seriously? That's what I end up with?

c) wildcard

( u know whats up hmu with things!!! )

b

[shaft]

[ stares at him like what ]

[highestheim]

[ STARES BACK ]

[shaft]

[ HELLO? HE IS THE ONE STARING? ]

[highestheim]

What? It's not like I chose to bring a little model of you along with me!

[shaft]

... Ten years and you're still obsessed with me, hm?

[technocool]

[ she's just looking over his shoulder with 0 personal space. wowee it's just like home game ]

Who's that?

[highestheim]

[ even if this isn't the same taba (also he doesn't know that yet,), he's used to people hovering around him... but also, he's giving her kind of a "really?" look when she asks whose profile he's looking at, because: ]

... It's you.

[technocool]

Hmmmm..... Thought my WIS would have been higher.

[highestheim]

I wouldn't put too much thought into the numbers. Even if some of them seem accurate, there's also a chance that they were assigned arbitrarily to make us think there was some sort of pattern, even if there isn't.

b

[unsaid]

[oh wow an interview

mikazuki lets himself be stopped, and seems to be contemplating this question very hard. so hard. he's a sword so - ]

... it is a bit complicated to answer....

[highestheim]

[ hope doesn't look undeterred by mikazuki's contemplation! he simply nods to acknowledge the response, speaking very clearly. there's something almost professional about the way he conducts himself. ]

As is the case with almost all of us, I assume. What exactly are the factors that would complicate your circumstances?

[unsaid]

[good for you hope, do your big guy job

but mikazuki just laughs a little bit at that, before smiling as though hope told a good joke right there]

... time would.

[time itself makes it hard to tell how long it's been,]

Would it be helpful if I were to say that it has been a number of years?

[highestheim]

Yes, actually. [ crosses his arms ] I've been trying to see if there's any sort of pattern to how long we've each remained in our home worlds after our initial "games." For the most part, it seems that people were allowed to spend anywhere from a few days to a year at home before being brought here... meanwhile, it's been more than ten years for myself.

b

[stillnot]

Might as well see what we can figure out just by talking to each other, right?

[ it makes sense to her to gather info like this! ]

... It's been a couple weeks.

[highestheim]

Exactly my point. The more points of reference we have, the better.

[ he nods! and doing his best to remember things without having something to take notes on... ]

Thank you for answering. Were you able to return to your home world, or did you go somewhere else after the conclusion of your game?

[stillnot]

I went home. But we had the option to follow our friends if we wanted, and to visit each other afterwards.

b

[fishingforcompliments]

[because i think it's funny for him to have to admit to having a claude figurine to another femblem:]

Hm? What did you end up with?

[highestheim]

[ yea that's fair. hope's kind of embarrassed to admit this... ]

It's, uh... something from a practical joke my friends played. Why I ended up with it, I have no idea.

[fishingforcompliments]

I see...

[...]

Was it a funny joke?

[highestheim]

yeet

a

[agleam]

[squints at him for a few moments, before:]

...Hope?

[highestheim]

[ by now, hope has run into enough people to realize there's been some time displacement... he gives rupert a small smile. ]

Yes, it's me. Although I wish the circumstances were anything else... it's good to see you, Rupert.

[agleam]

It's nice to see you, too, but... Wow. It's been a while for you, huh?

[he'll echo that smile, though.]

[highestheim]

yeet