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

We were rather well-fed in the camp. But the island before that left a bit to be desired.

[after a momentary pause of surprise:]

Wait, so... You've been to two places before this? Or - was the island your home?

Ah... I have been to two places such as this. The island was my first. The camp was the second, though not everyone from the island was there... the others in the camp had come from different places.

...I suspect such may be the case here as well.

And... Did really bad things happen in both of them?

...

[she nods]

Going through that twice... It must have been really hard. I'm really sorry to hear that.

[true to his word, his voice and expression are both sympathetic.]

Once was bad enough. I am sorry that you had to go through such a thing, as well.

[and now he's stuck here too on top of that? hello?]

...Maybe it'll be different, this time. We still don't know what kind of entertainment they want.

[he sounds like he has negative amounts of faith in that, but.]

I find that a little difficult to believe... [sometimes this is your third murdergame and It's Fine] But, it would be nice if that did turn out to be the case.

...Yeah, me too. But we can keep our fingers crossed, at least.

[there's not much else they can do while they wait for the other shoe to drop, he figures.]

...yes, we can.

[well, they've seen the kitchen... next up... the gift shop!]

Oh, there are rather a lot of things here...

[carefully picking up a snowglobe and squinting]

Do you have any idea what this is supposed to be?

[she leans over to get a better look at it]

A decoration of some kind?

That'd be my guess, too.

[turning it over a few times and watching the fake snow inside drift around.]

It's pretty cool! I wonder how long it took to make something like this.

I would imagine it must have taken a while! Particularly to figure out how to make the white bits float like that, but only after shaking it...

Yeah... And to carve and paint all the scenery in there, too.

[he sets it back on the shelf carefully.]

It's pretty impressive!

Yes! Especially to be able to get that much detail on such a tiny object... the sculptor must be very skilled indeed.

You want to take one? You could put it in your room, assuming they ever give us those.

Perhaps I will come to take one whenever we are allowed access to somewhere to sleep. That way I will not have to keep track of it until then.

Ooh, good point. I guess it does seem kind of awkward to just put it in your pocket for a while.

I do not believe this dress has any pockets at all. It is highly inconvenient!

Oh, well...

[glancing towards another part of the shop for a moment]

It looks like there's some different clothes here, if you want to try to find anything.

Oh, perhaps...

[she wanders over to go take a look... does she want to wear hotel branded clothing? is that a trade she'll make for the convenience of having pockets?

she will think about it.]

[he can't really follow her thought process here, so after a moment of watching her indecision:]

Everything okay...?

I am not sure I like the prospect of wearing garments emblazoned with the logo of a place where we are trapped.

(no subject)

agleam - 2022-06-04 19:58 (UTC) - Expand

fishingforcompliments - 2022-06-04 20:54 (UTC) - Expand

agleam - 2022-06-04 21:05 (UTC) - Expand

fishingforcompliments - 2022-06-04 22:40 (UTC) - Expand