WEEK ZERO: MINGLE

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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

[shaft]

[ Now Claude's expression would grow strained, but thankfully he's learned that NPCs are not usually willing pawns. ]

Really? That must've been shitty in its own way. You wouldn't have happened to have your memories tampered with, did you?

[evocationary]

[sweats intensely]

Not really, no, but there were other... circumstances. Anyway, enough about that. Which one were you from?

[shaft]

[ ... hm ]

Got a tally, already? I was at a school.

[evocationary]

Kinda! There's a jungle, and the school, that's the one I've heard the most so far. And then mine, which was the station, and uhhh... the one Cloud is from.

[helpful.]

[shaft]

[ he hums ]

I wonder if they're all connected somehow...? Aside from the murder.

[evocationary]

Considering the fact that both me and my brother have apparently been in several, maybe.

[shaft]

I've heard that too. [ rubs his head ] Perhaps we're meeting the mastermind...

[evocationary]

[that would be WILD. the final boss of crau2 is the one who made all the other murdergames]

Yikes. I mean, I guess I'd like to meet them so I could set them on fire a little!

[shaft]

I doubt you're the only one. Our last... villain met a pretty gruesome death once we managed to overcome it.

[evocationary]

So did ours, but it deserved it. You'd agree if you'd seen it.

Wait, so yours was a school, right? Did you actually do classes and stuff?

[shaft]

We did... There was even homework. But it was largely nonsensical.

[ rubs his chin ]

Classes on how to console a friend after a breakup, and tell which literary figures were gay.

[evocationary]

[she does this abrupt gigglesnort like she wasn't expecting that]

Well, now you have to tell me which ones are gay! Did you study?

[shaft]

[ he's a bad student ]

I'm a pretty terrible student... I didn't recognize any of the names anyway. And I wasn't sure how we were supposed to judge?? The class just involved pointing at things.

[evocationary]

[long pause

reaches out to tap his nose.]

Bi.

[don't just assign real strangers this???]

[shaft]

[ ...........

Flicks her forehead. ]

Back at you.

[evocationary]

[she laughs.]

Good guess! Correct guess! Does that make us friends now? I think it should.

[shaft]

[ He smiles at her. ]

I wouldn't turn down a friend. We could certainly use them now more than ever.