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

I. bc i want to touch brad even before writing my own starter ope

[callalilies]

[ wrong shade of blue (we've been thru this) and taller than 5'10" in heels but brad is allowed to be hasty because kaeya just opens one big blue eye. he's dressed in some elegant tasseled dress with flashy peacock appliqués. ]

Looking for someone too?

[ man fuck this place tho ]

[battling]

[Blue is still blue enough. This guy doesn't fit what he's looking for, but he sighs.]

Figure everybody got threatened into this shit?

[callalilies]

[ newo :( regardless, kaeya folds his arms and gives a bit of a sigh too, blowing some of his hair out of his face. ]

Oh absolutely. Hostages and contracts.

What I wouldn't give to read it just a bit more closely, though.

[battling]

[He grumbles to himself.]

They've never let ya do that. It's on their terms and only theirs. Bastards.

[callalilies]

We'll just have to find a way to sneak a little peek. Later. I feel like the last time this happened all we could do was fumble for a few days... it's stupid. Get right to the point.

[ sighs! dramatically! but then he'll offer out a hand. ]

Kaeya Alberich. And you are?

[battling]

Couple days before we got even a couple answers. [Well, whatever.

Sure, he'll shake. It's not more intimate than grabbing a face.]

Bradley Bain.

[callalilies]

[ good boy. ]

A pleasure. At least they didn't put us in skimpy nun costumes this time around.

[battling]

[no headpats allowed]

Damn, you got stuck with that? We just had school uniforms.

[callalilies]

[ that's for later (no) ]

We certainly did, I'd say this dress is a step up really. [ he makes the tassels swish a little ]

School uniforms? [ a brow raise ] I have to wonder what sort of strange game you were involved in that required those.

[battling]

We had to go to school. 0/10. Ain't goin' back.

[callalilies]

[ oh what the fuck kaeya makes a face. he was tutored at home, but he definitely wouldn't want to have to do that again. ]

Don't know if that's better or worse than what I got.

[battling]

[ He misses the freezing cold of the north where there were no schools at all. Good memories. ]

What d'ya get? Besides the nun outfit.

[callalilies]

Animals.

[battling]

Animals?

[callalilies]

[ he nods ]

It was quite the experience. They could change shape between a couple of forms and tended to aid us during the, ah... various trials we were forced to attend.

They were very loyal companions on our journey. Which ended with quite the bang...

[battling]

Yeah, I remember a lotta Saturday trials.

Were ya the guys who had God blow up?

[callalilies]

Nine hours of hell. I suppose it'll be much of the same... can't wait.

[ he blinks a moment and then nods at that. ]

So you're already caught up there. Had a lot of hard-working people help us figure all that out. Between the compass driving poor Nero crazy and us trying to figure out the best way to fuel the bomb... it was really quite a lot.

[battling]

[ Wait a second. He did absorb all of that, but his attention is caught on "Nero". ]

Nero's compass? What's their full name?

[callalilies]

Turner. Nero Turner. About... this tall, blue hair... stole cutlery from every place we went.

[battling]

And he's an excellent cook?

[callalilies]

Incredible at it... [ our crab feast..... ]

[battling]

[Man....]

He's the best cook I've ever met.

[callalilies]

So you're from the same same place?

[ he tilts his head curiously, looking thoughtful for a moment. ]

Interesting... being pulled to two completely different places.

[battling]

He's an Eastern wizard and I'm a Northern one, but yeah. Same world, anyway.

[A lot of history too.]

Haven't met anybody else from home runnin' around here.

[callalilies]

Seems like it's only those who have been through these particular events and trials. No doubt we'll be seeing something like it again...

[ a shake of the head. ]

Actually, I have a question. Can you taste the difference between animal jerky... and human jerky?