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

[agleam]

arrival

[even after everyone has woken up, there's someone just kind of laying on the marble floor instead of getting up. he doesn't appear to be injured at all. he's just staying where he is and staring at the ceiling.

if he notices anyone looking at him:]

I just need, like... two minutes? Five minutes. I don't know. It's been a really long day.

[ok]

entry doors

[a little later on he is trying to walk right out through the entry doors at the end of the hallway! and getting tossed back in the hotel instead. there is a significant chance he might accidentally get pushed into you as this happens. sorry in advance.]

Ah—

wildcard

[hit me up with anything else!! i am also down for pcs.]

Arrival

[battling]

[No, he's immediately nudging him with a foot.]

You're a trippin' hazard.

[agleam]

[swats at his foot absentmindedly]

Can't you just... [please hold while he realizes something] Wait - Bradley?

[battling]

[Nudges his foot against the hand.]

Yeah, in the flesh. Familiar faces, huh?

arrival

[mustbepurged]

[Estelle got up, looked around the room, and came right back looking concerned when she saw this guy still lying on the floor. She's just about to reach out to him when his words get her to stop.]

Oh... okay.

[She takes a step back, politely giving him space.]

Um... are you all right?

[agleam]

Probably.

[this answers nothing and he seems to realize that after a moment, so he at least shifts enough that he's sitting up.]

Sorry. I mean - I'll be fine. It's just, you know. A lot. What about you...?

[mustbepurged]

[She looks a little relieved.]

Y, yes, it is kind of jarring... um, but I'm fine! No injuries or anything.

It looks like we're in a fancy hotel... Did we all appear here at the same time?

entry doors

[outsidebones]

[she's just watching this from where she's leaning against the wall, and then he bumps into her and she slightly topples.]

Surely by now we know how these things work?

[agleam]

[offering her a hand to help her up, before anything else! and then:]

First off, sorry, are you okay? And secondly... Yeah, probably, but if by some miracle that had worked and I hadn't tried it because I just assumed, I would have been really angry at myself later.

[outsidebones]

[oh. well, she will awkwardly take the hand, after a moment of hesitating about whether she wants to, and will pick herself up, scowl fading just a bit.]

Yes, that's - fair enough, I suppose. If the rules had changed and we had all assumed...

arrival

[callalilies]

[ kaeya is just crouched carefully in his tasseled peacock dress, peering at this lump on the ground with one blue eye. ]

Sure, as many as you need.

[ he glances around the lobby a moment before offering the body a hand. ]

But I think you're better off getting up sooner rather than later. Someone might trip over you. That, or maybe you'll just end up part of the scenery.

[agleam]

[there's a moment of pause.]

Yeah, I don't like either of those options, come to think of it.

[so he accepts that hand! up he goes.]

Thanks.

[callalilies]

[ there you go! much better, kaeya brushes the other's shoulders off very gently. ]

Oh yes, much better now that you're vertical. That cold floor never did anyone any favors. Not really helpful with trying to make out the details of anything either.

arrival

[headmt]

[ mood. reaching over to gently pat this stranger on the shoulder. ]

Afraid it's just started, darling.

[agleam]

It's at least—

[whatever he's about to say is lost as he shoves himself into a sitting position, blinking at him.]

Mollymauk? Then... Wait, you haven't seen Caleb or Beau here, have you?

[headmt]

[ these keep getting worse and worse? He looks so incredibly baffled by all of this at once, hand just hovering there over his shoulder. ]

You know Caleb and Beau ... ?

arrival

[stillnot]

We're probably about to have a lot of really long days.

[agleam]

That is also true, yeah.

[after a second, he groans and pushes himself to a sitting position, at least, before rubbing at his face.]

Okay. Okay, we should at least look around.

[stillnot]

Yeah. Even if there's no way out, still better to know where the exits are. And vantage points, choke points, hiding spots...

[ regular hotel stuff. ]

entry doors

[shaft]

[ Here comes our Rupert!

Catches!! ]

[agleam]

[he is caught!! and he takes a step back once he's sure he won't fall.]

Thanks. I probably should have—

[once he realizes who he's talking to, though, he pauses.]

Oh - you're here too, huh?

[shaft]

[ sup ]

That's not a lot of enthusiasm, Rupert. I'm hurt.

entry doors

[decaptych]

[ Well you can collide into the chest of a big mcfuck. It's like, throwing a ping pong ball into a cement brick. However, a giant hand comes to steady him and — ]

Whoa! Rupert?!

[agleam]

[he blinks a few times, but once he's steady and realizes who it is:]

Aikawa! [...] I'm right, right? Or is there another name I need to keep track of...

[stop]

[decaptych]

[ Waving his hands rapidly as if telling Rupert to shut up. ]

Noooooononono. It's Aikawa, man! Yeah it's just me!

Hell, what are you doing here? It's not like one of those, uh, amusement park places is it?