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

Did I say I wanted to? How vile.

[she will allow lup to put an arm on her, yes. that is something that's allowed.]

Hi.

[snort.]

Just a caveat. [a pause.] ... So, uh. This is bad, right? Have you seen anybody else? Or uh, any wiggly furry masses on the ceiling?

I saw Yuri, in fact. That was enough of a surprise. I didn't expect you.

[but that's all so far, going by page order. she nods, tapping her fingers against her arm.]

It is bad. Though somewhat...relieving, to see familiar faces. Even if I am hardly relieved you find yourself in this situation.

Wonder how many more of us are running around. [she rubs at her neck. the back of it, specifically, over the base.]

I'm not glad to see you here and glad, all in one, for sure. Stay close? Safety in numbers.

Of course. I would be foolish not to. And the same goes for you. I'm not wrong in thinking that you are one of us mere mortals now, am I.

Nope, you're not wrong. I don't even have infinity sleeves. Which, I guess - this is karma, huh.

[a little sigh.] Do you wanna try to look around with me?

I wasn't going to say anything of the sort.

[but she nods.]

Yes, that's a good idea. I'd like to get a sense of the area, start mapping out anything of importance.

Me too. Maybe we can find other people too? I mean, fingers crossed that it won't be people we like!

You ever been in one of these before? A hotel, I mean.

Well. Fingers crossed that it won't be people we greatly dislike, either.

[that would be worse? probably. almost certainly.]

I...believe so. It is an inn? Meant for travelers?

[gonna start wandering now]

That's about right, yeah. High-tech inn. You know, I have no idea what's going to be here. Usually it's just a bunch of rooms, and like a bar? Maybe some really rude attendants that charge you even though your name isn't on the room, or a ping pong table.

Maybe it'll be like the station where none of the locations made any fuckin' sense.

Well, at some point, one runs out of ideas for new rooms, I imagine. You didn't choose them on the station...? The ones on your level, I mean.

They kind of just happened more than I picked them. They fit me? But it wasn't a conscious choice, no.

Hmm.

[she drums her fingers against her side.]

Someone saw fit to give us the gift, and a condolences card and the like. Not dissimilar to what we received when we arrived, though much less salacious in nature. It makes me wonder who send this package.

[she's fidgety, as they walk.]

Mmmm... I wouldn't be surprised if there were uh, Avatars here too? Except not Avatars. Hosts. It's similar, you're right.

I'm gonna go ahead and assume this is gonna be less indulgent, based on what I've seen so far. So at least there's that.

[in a whisper - ]

Let's not tell people about that part.

[snortlaughs]

Yeah, sure, that'll go over well. It was a space station! There were no other quirks.

It was a space station, there was a creature, it is dead now. The creature had no other characteristics either.

Uh. [sweats] Sure!

[definitely didn't tell like 4 people about the furby already no sir]

[it's fine she tried once to clem and it was hell.]

Well, it's dead now and that's what's important.

[... rubs at the back of her neck again.]

... Yeah. Yeah, it's uh, it's dead. [she adjusts her hair so that it falls over her neck a little more securely.] Oh, have you seen the profile book yet?

[squinting at the back of her neck? does she have a mark or a port there? or can it not be seen with hair.

anyway, throws time out the window.]

Not more than a glance. Let's take a look now, why don't we?

[she does, in fact, have a mark there! it's like a burn scar in the shape of something like a wifi port, slightly indented. gross.

anyway, she nods a little, and leads harrow off to the profile book!]

[flipping through the pages.]

Oh, yes. Emet-Selch. Have you seen him? He is here, but he is pretending to be a different person.

[she immediately makes a face]

Yeah. It was a whole... thing. He's a baby? Like, this one is way, way younger.

Ah. That makes a little sense of it. I'm doing him the courtesy of pretending to believe he's another person entirely. For now, at least.

(no subject)

evocationary - 2022-06-04 21:51 (UTC) - Expand

outsidebones - 2022-06-04 22:05 (UTC) - Expand