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

[callalilies]

one.

[ there's a tall, eyepatch-wearing man dressed in a tasseled dress with peacock appliqués who is uncapping his flask and giving it a quick sniff with a furrow of his brow. he frowns a bit and stows it away right into the v-shaped opening of his dress with a large sigh.

removing the elegant gloves he's wearing, he holds them in one hand while using the fingers of his other to whistle around the area. ]

[ he frowns deeply. ]

two.

[ at the restaurant, kaeya is staring at the bar with a deep frown, a cup of coffee there between his hands. he stares at it with a deep frown. welp. this sure sucks. ]

I have complaints about the service already.

three.

[ pc me! just dm me at char#0009 or plurk @ gutshot! ]

two.

[ashenvaliant]

[ he looks at the coffee and then at kaeya. ]

As long as they didn't poison the coffee, then I can't think of many things to complain about.

[callalilies]

While I'm all for not being poised... I'll complain until there's an open bar.

[ he will nurse his coffee however, because it's better than nothing. ]

At least the clothing is better than what we were stuck in last time.

[ashenvaliant]

Mmhm. Well, I can't argue with that. [ thinks about what he showed up in the last place in. frowns. ] Very stylish by the way, I like the theming.

They cut you off?

one.

[headmt]

[ looking around like ??????????? am I the one being whistled at? Doing a little pose? Hello? ]

[callalilies]

[ like that tiktok with the girl and her two dogs and she says "HERE BOY" except kaeya does blink a little. what? ]

A familiar face in all this... interesting. How did you make it all the way from Ankheen?

[headmt]

[ Oh. Looking incredibly blank for a second, and then clearing his throat - trying at least hide the confusion a bit, but like. Badly. ]

Think you're confusing me with someone else. I mean, tieflings, we all sort of look alike, right?

two

[stillnot]

[ clementine shrugs! ]

The walls aren't falling apart. Can't ask for more than that.

[ she's... joking? sure! ]

[callalilies]

I suppose it is better in the first few cities we found ourselves in before. And there's food and drink.


And the outfits aren't... awful or religious.

[stillnot]

[ yeah! clementine won't ever complain about there being food and drink. ]

Religious? What, like... Pope costumes?

two

[aono]

[Guess who is suddenly popping up behind the bar. How did he get here? It is a mystery. But he is here.]

Do you want something a bit stronger than coffee?

[Rin has no idea how to mix alcohol. And it would just turn into juice when he touches it anyway. But he does not know this fact and he's trying to cheer Kaeya up anyway so.]

[callalilies]

Oh? My dashing bartender for the evening is you, Rin! How perfect.

[ kaeya looks delighted as he meets his eyes, chin in his hand. ]

Sure, do you see any other wine back there?

[aono]

[He's grinning now. He's dashing!!! Kaeya said so and Kaeya is the charming type, so it must be true.]

Yep! I think I have juuuust the thing!

[He is going to mess around behind the counter. He's grabbed a martini glass and sets it down in front of Kaeya and then grabs a bottle that looks like it should hold red wine, but in reality it has grapefruit juice in it. He fills the martini glass about 2/3rds full, and then he puts like five cherries in to fill it the rest of the way.]

Here you go: one cherry delight!

one

[philandery]

[ he's staring. he doesn't meant to be rude... he's looking respectfully...(?) he is very confused. ]

...Something the matter?

the LINK HELLO?!

[callalilies]

[ he's allowed to stair. kaeya is going to curl a finger around some of his hair and turn around easily in his heels. ]

Oh? Yes... I'm looking for my friend. He's big and white, comes up to about here— [ hip height, though unbeknownst to him polaris is now much smaller ] very friendly. Goes by the name "Polaris."

[ he leans against some furniture with a sigh ] No luck, however. Probably something they'll unveil tomorrow or... the day after maybe.

A-WINK

[philandery]

[ yeah okay it's a dude. (???????) ...sir don't lean like that this is a wendy's. ]

Sorry, can't say I have.

[ ...on a serious note, he is listening to what kaeya's saying, not just just trying to wrap his mind around his glittering dress. ] ...You sound like you're pretty used to all this?

[ totally blasé. meanwhile sylvain is trying to stave off at least 5 simultaneous crises ]

two

[shinetrue]

[ there's many emotions that go through him, when he steps into the restaurant and sees a certain cavalry captain at the bar.

but rather than sprinting at him, he just approaches quietly, taking his jacket off to drape over kaeya's shoulders.]

Perhaps I can be of service, instead. Sir Kaeya.

[ he gives his shoulders a firm squeeze. ]

[callalilies]

[ the warmth of the jacket earns a blink as kaeya lifts his head and turns to the sound of the voice instantly. ]

Master Diluc, what a surprise...


[ he reaches up with a hand to very gently place a hand on his. it lingers a moment as he tries to process what he should say first, what sort of things can he say? surprise, we're here again? ]

Are you alright? ... Have you seen Pol or Canopus...?

[shinetrue]

[ he takes his hand and gives it a squeeze, before stepping away and then around the bar. ]

I'm a little annoyed at our situation, but otherwise...[ he shakes his head ] No, I have not seen either of them.

[ there's a frown on his face, one that reads of sadness and even loneliness. after all they haven't really been separated from their daemons since they left that place. he grabs a glass. ]

They should be here, somewhere though, according to the book up front.

two

[sageguidance]

Is the coffee no good?

[callalilies]

[ he glances at alphinaud and ??????? he blinks a moment and then blinks down at his cup ]

It could use a bit more liquor if you ask me.

[ he offers him a weak smile. ]

... I see they brought you here as well, Alphinaud.

[sageguidance]

[ A pause follows, brief and thoughtful. ]

Unfortunately so, and I cannot say I am terribly thrilled about it. Honestly, to think this could happen more than once...

one

[fishingforcompliments]

[she is just walking by when kaeya whistles



she jumps like three feet in the air and turns to look over at him, wide-eyed. wow! that was a loud whistle!]

...are you attempting to call someone?

[callalilies]

[ not again, britt lastname.

kaeya sees her jump and just chuckles a little. ]


My apologies. I've lost my luggage and he usually comes running when he hears the whistling.

[ "he usually comes running when my brain tells him to" isn't easy to explain, and since he can't really feel polaris anymore... a whistle is all he has. ]

[fishingforcompliments]

Oh, I see...

[hmm. :c she looks vaguely in the direction of the stairs.]

Perhaps he is on another floor? I am not terribly familiar with hotels, but I have heard it said that sometimes they bring one's luggage up to their room ahead of time. I am sure he is safe, and simply waiting for you to be allowed into the area where he is!