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

[letting go as soon as she seems stable, and then sighing]

Yeah. Looks like it's about what we expected, though... Next time I experiment I promise not to take you down with me, at least!

Hardly worth making a fuss about. We're all bound to get a bit banged up sooner or later, aren't we?

[she pauses for a long, very awkward pause, like she's trying to decide what to say.]

Harrowhark Nonagesimus.

I'm guessing you've been in a similar situation before, then? Well, maybe not exactly like this, but...

[at the introduction, he gives her a smile.]

Harrowhark is a pretty cool name! I'm Rupert. It's nice to meet you, despite - well, you know. All this.

Indeed, rather very much like this, so far. An odd dream involving a bargain, a sudden arrival, a forced change of clothes, missing belongings, cryptic messages.

[she doesn't smile but she does seem to have shed some of her unfriendliness in the face of his friendliness.]

And you, Rupert?

Huh... Last time I never made any kind of bargain, I just kind of showed up at the school. They kept acting like we'd all agreed to be there, but that was because their memories were altered.

[a little shrug.]

Everything you mentioned other than the bargain seems familiar from last time, though.

[nodding slowly.]

And did it turn into people killing one another...?

[he nods again, with a frown.]

Yeah. For a couple different reasons, but - at least once every week.

I see. And the same is true for us. By the end of the first week, one was dead and one was executed, and it never stopped after that.

[he nods.]

I wonder if it's the same for everyone else here... What was the reason behind yours?

The reason?

[she frowns, uncertain exactly how to answer that, but after taking a moment to try to assess him, she'll try honesty.]

We were all promised rather desirable prizes, but the suggestion was made that perhaps there wasn't enough to go around for all of us to get everything we wanted. There were some who took it upon themselves to thin the numbers to increase their odds.

And for you? Some reason beyond that?

Wait, so...

[jeopardy music plays in the background for a solid few seconds]

So everyone in your last competition didn't have to do anything like that, but some of them chose to anyways? I must be misunderstanding that, right...

[oh dear.]

...I must emphasize that none of the offenders have made their presence known. [though she would probably say that whether or not it was true.] Beyond that, I suppose there are arguments back and forth one might make about "have to" - we all thought it would come to that eventually, some more strongly than others - but yes, by and large you are correct.

Well, that's - pretty horrible! Although I guess it's good that those people aren't here...?

[frowning for a moment, regardless.]

I wonder if that's the same for anyone else, though.

If I thought anyone I recognized was a threat to the peace, I would not be making small talk before giving warning. I should hope others would feel the same obligation, but we can hardly count on it.

[he nods.]

Yeah... Everyone I've seen so far that I've recognized wouldn't do something like that for the reasons you mentioned. I guess things could be worse in that way, at least. Not that I really want anyone to be in this kind of situation.

That is good to know.

[not that she can take his word for it but as far as people go, rupert doesn't seem particularly duplicitous.]

Who have you seen so far who you recognize, if I might ask?

[he nods.]

Let's see, um... Dimitri, but he's younger than when I knew him for some reason... Mollymauk, but I don't think he recognizes me... And then Bradley, Aikawa, and Claude.

[there are a few people he hasn't seen quite yet, but.]

How about you?

Mollymauk! [oh, she seems surprised for a moment.] Yes, he mentioned some thought they knew him. It must be that.

Lup, Yuri, Sheila, Mollymauk, and Emet-Selch are the ones I know, though Emet-Selch does not recognize any of us.

So a few people have been in more than one of these things, but they don't necessarily remember all of them...

[bites his lip for a moment]

That's kind of worrying.

It is strange, but doesn't it seem as though some people bring it upon themselves? Several individuals I have met from Mollymauk's world seem to be brought to these things and at some point I feel they must bear some responsibility for their actions.

...Yeah, I'm gonna have to go with no on that one.

[a sigh as she realizes maybe she's being unreasonable and perhaps crazy sounding.]

Well. Maybe not responsible. But surely there's a reason. Mollymauk is my friend, but he is a magnet for this sort of trouble.

[he tilts his head.]

...Are you worried about him?

Well. Anyone who is here is in a bit of trouble, I imagine.

[he sighs.]

Yeah, probably. That dream felt really ominous. And if we all came from similar situations... I feel like that also doesn't exactly bode well.

(no subject)

outsidebones - 2022-06-04 17:00 (UTC) - Expand

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