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

[decaptych]

As opposed to courtyards full of rats?

[ Helpfully lowering this bar. ]

[agleam]

Don't give them any ideas!

[decaptych]

Rats and worms! Dirt on the walls!

[agleam]

Or we could have none of those things and nice things instead!

[decaptych]

I'm saying, the bar is looking pretty high and comfy now, isn't it?

[ TASK SUCCESS...? ]

[agleam]

Most things are better than rats and worms. Yes.

[decaptych]

Maybe we'll get nice stuff, like... uh...

[ :thonk: ]

[agleam]

[he'll be nice and wait.]

[decaptych]

...Beds.

[ Nice, still hitting that low bar. ]

[agleam]

...Is that the nicest thing you could think of?

[decaptych]

Remember we didn't have beds in daycare? And they didn't even fit!

A me-sized bed would be pretty nice.

[agleam]

I mean, we had the nap room. That... kind of counts.

[although, after a pause:]

I'm guessing you had a different experience with it than I did, though, yeah.

[silence, twink]

[decaptych]

[ This idiot has not had a normal bed experience. Even as a lizard he constantly had swiss cheese for pillows and they'd get skewered onto his head. The bar is different. ]

I guess I kinda liked the nap room.

But I mean, I guess I'd just... it'd be cool if all we did was hang for a little while.

[agleam]

[he nods.]

Yeah. It'd be nice to - I don't know, decompress. Get to know everybody here. Did you get any time to relax back home before you got here, at least...?

[decaptych]

[ He wrings his hands a little bit. ]

...I mean, uh... I guess?

I kinda hung around other worlds a lot. Beau's, Lucretia's, Sieg's...

[agleam]

[there's a little pause.]

That sounds nice. How long has it been, for you?

[decaptych]

I don't really know. Couple months, ish? Don't like paying attention to time much.

...You? Is it different, if you're asking?

[agleam]

[he pauses to think that over.]

No, probably around the same. I think it was four months, give or take a few weeks, between leaving the school and coming here.

[decaptych]

What've you been up to in the in-between?

[agleam]

[there's a long pause, moderately uncomfortable.]

...That's a pretty long story. I'd kind of rather not get into it now.

[decaptych]

Oh, okay. That's fine, I mean -- same, I guess. Sort of.

...Wanna just dick around and look at places?

[agleam]

[after another moment, he nods.]

Nothing much else to do just yet, I guess.

[decaptych]

[ Really read that as 'nothing much else to do but yeet, I guess' at first and I was like Rupert. ]

Hey, pretty good place to get started, right?

[agleam]

[yeah that too!!]

Where do you want to head first? I think I saw a restaurant...?

[decaptych]

Damn, you really know how to cut to the chase, Rupert! Obviously I'm game to go check out a restaurant. Hope they have good food there, I'm really not gonna make it if starving is a part of the challenges.