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

[ hello i'm here to torment you again. but she does make a face at being called kiddo. ]

So what message are they trying to send with the fancy clothes and big hotel?

[He juggles the sticky hand a moment or two, peering contemplatively at Clementine.]

Guess they just like style. [He sounds so dry.] This isn't your first rodeo, right, Clementine?

No matter how fancy they try to dress it up, I'm sure you understand what's going on here.

[ she gives a small nod. ]

... It's going to get worse before it gets better. But there should be some kind of goal buried in whatever happens.

Atta girl.

[He appreciates a good cynic. Same hat.]

Don't know what's under the superficial surface, but for right now, I think we know what goal they want us to have.

Hopefully it's just another numbers game.

[He peers at her.]

You too? "Bad guys" have to win, or...?

There weren't really any bad guys. Just a lot of teams that all needed to earn their points.

Oh, so everyone was a "bad guy" then. Teams. Our bad guys turned out to be the good guys. What a surprise, huh?

I guess. Bad guys always think they're the good guys anyway.

[He grins a bit, amused.]

Some of them. Ours sure did.

["Cool motive, still murder," says Jason Todd, a murderer.]

All of them. Everyone can justify the things that they do.

[ clem, also definitely a murderer ]

[This makes him laugh. Maybe not in a nice way still.]

You keep talking like that, and Batman is going to swoop down and give you a lecture on how you always try to help the bad guys.

[ she has complicated thoughts on trying to help people who have wronged you so instead of getting into that: ]

Batman?

Yeah. A guy who dresses up like a bat and stops crime in the middle of the night.

[He says this with the straightest face.]

That sounds like a comic book.

[I laugh, but Jason just seems amused.]

Right? I'm telling the truth, though. Swear. There's a man with a bunch of gadgets who dresses like a bat that goes out at night to stop crime. Everyone is scared of him. Batman.

Vezda said that they make comics of real things in his world.

... But that still sounds ridiculous.

Vezda?

[He holds up both arms like "what can I do?" He isn't the man dressed like a bad. He's the man in the red hood.]

Can't help what Batman chooses to do with his life. But he'd definitely try to convince you to help the bad guys. And to definitely not kill them.

He forgot his real name.

[ clementine........ has also forgotten bucky's real name. ]

And I wouldn't have to kill them if they would stop trying to kill me.

[CLEMENTINE, BUCKY'S NAME....]

I see. He's not wrong. [Amnesia. It happens.] Haha. I've tried to use that excuse plenty of times.

I should probably scold you, but I'm actually the wrong person for that. You're a pretty cool kid. You'd make Batman so unhappy.

I don't know how to feel about that compliment.

At least I'm not guilt tripping you about murdering people who deserve it?

Everyone here should know better than that.

You'd be surprised. Things can get a little complicated.

That's even more reason to understand.

(no subject)

unrecked - 2022-06-05 17:49 (UTC) - Expand

stillnot - 2022-06-05 22:10 (UTC) - Expand