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

ii

[stillnot]

[ clem peels off the sticky hand and then. just comes over to lup to return it. ]

You dropped something.

[evocationary]

Oh, hey, thanks! I'm glad it found a home on your face. [she takes the hand and launches it into space before yelling:] Hey! Whoever is watching us like creeps probably, have at you or whatever!

[stillnot]

[ yeah, fuck you invisible sky creeps. ]

So. How many times do you think we'll have to do this, this time?

[evocationary]

[a big, heavy sigh.]

I don't know, I was hoping the last time was gonna be the last time!

[stillnot]

I know a lot of us said we would go another round, but I kind of thought that was a symbolic thing.

[evocationary]

Oh, man, not me, I've been through two and that was enough. [huff.] Speaking of. You haven't seen any big menacing flesh furbies around, have you?

[stillnot]

[ ........ hm........ two is not the correct number........ also ]

Flesh furbies?

[evocationary]

Yeah. Listen, you'd know if you saw it. Speaks in baby talk and is existentially horrifying. If you see it, don't run. It'll chase.

[stillnot]

Huh. I need a gun.

[evocationary]

That probably won't stop it! But gun is not a bad idea. Think we can find one around here that doesn't require like, blood sacrifice? Or one of those fun little trips to a hell of your own making?

[stillnot]

Sure. We got that shooting-range last time.

Actually, I feel like there were a lot of guns being handed around by a couple weeks in.

[evocationary]

[squints.]

... Lucky. I mean, I guess we could've given out more guns, but it's not very indulgent to just shoot someone.

[stillnot]

[ hmmmmmmmm. ]

Sure it is. It can be.

[evocationary]

[okay well she's getting some weird vibes so

there's a pause, and then:]

You think I'm someone else, don't you.

[stillnot]

You're Lup, right?

[evocationary]

Yeah. Okay, well, at least you don't think I'm Taako, but uh. But here's the kicker - I'm not sure what your name is.

[stillnot]

It's Clementine.

Nice to meet you.

[evocationary]

Nice to meet you. Do you want to go see if we can find a gun somewhere?

[stillnot]

[ you know what. ]

Yeah. I really do.

[evocationary]

Rad. [she does the will smith pose at the hotel] After you?

[stillnot]

[ clem had looked a little tense but - that makes her laugh as she heads in. ]

So you were from somewhere else.

[evocationary]

Yeah. I wouldn't have caught on probably, but I've had about sixty three bazillion people be like hey, are you Taako? Or hey, Lup, remember me? And there's just like, nothing.

Sorry. You seem chill.

[stillnot]

[ chill... ] That's me.

To be fair, you - the Lup I know? She did forget her own name for a while.

[evocationary]

[opens mouth

closes mouth

opens mouth again]

Sounds... like exactly the type of really rude shit these places do. That's the memory loss one, right? The uh, the simulation?

[stillnot]

That's the one.

[ makes sense that if people have already been mistaking lup for a different lup, she's already heard about it... ]