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

[wisterin]

i. front desk

[ shinobu is here but with suspenders only and not the boob harness. guess who's looking over gift boxes? guess who's looking at the condolence card?

shinobu looks up with a bright smile at anyone she sees. ]

Have you found a fireplace or firepit in this place?

[ she sounds so pleasant, so calm. it's too bad one of her hands is playing with the shaving knife. ]

ii. courtyard

[ she's fine she's fine she's fine she's fine she's fine

she's seated very neatly in the courtyard, posture perfect. her grip on her teacup looks a little white-knuckled, and she breathes out audibly. ]

I guess I'm still a little immature.

iii. restaurant

[ she is a boring girl who cares about health and is refilling her flask with water.

that's all i got. ]

ii

[preowned]

[ he's just going to sit down next to her. ]

There's nothing wrong with that.

[wisterin]

[ i was just about to tag him for eating aspirin

she hasn't flipped through the guestbook yet for some reason, so her surprise cracks the smile on her face. ]

Tsurumaru-san? I should control my emotions a little more. This time. [ ... ] What's the last thing you remember?

[ is this the crane she knows? ]

[preowned]

I was home, but...

[ he taps his chin. ]

Pink snake?

i

[shaft]

[ i see ]

You might have some luck in the kitchen.

[wisterin]

[ sometimes, you need a way to keep calm? ]

Oh, the stove. I didn't expect a kitchen to be open to us. [ she smiles. thank you, claude. the shaving knife goes away. ] These cards are in poor taste, don't you think?

[shaft]

[ she's valid. ]

Yeah, certainly not as classy as the rest of this place. [ He rubs his chin. ] I wonder if they're just a taunt or some bizarre clue that'll become apparent later on.

i

[agleam]

[he has the look of someone making extremely sure they answer correctly.]

Um. Not yet...? Why?

[wisterin]

[ he's so valid. ]

My, to burn this card, of course.

[ she doesn't need a card to tell her this is gonna suck. ]

[agleam]

Oh.

[he relaxes a little at that.]

Well, we could look for one together, maybe? It's a pretty stupid card, so I want to get rid of it, too. [...] Maybe you could put the knife down first, though...?

ii.

[outsidebones]

Immature?

[she is having a cup of lukewarm lemon water somewhere nearby.]

Why do you say so?

[also im glad a girl is hydrating.]

[wisterin]

[ shinobu is, unfortunately, too health conscious to not hydrate. ]

I should be able to be calmer. Or I should keep my calm in an unknown place like this.

[outsidebones]

[oh. well. there's a little bit of sympathy there. but, brusquely - ]

Any sense of calm anyone possesses at this moment is bound to be largely playacting, don't you think so?

ii

[cuedoves]

[ zuko has noticed --- but he's similarly rankled, just, looking more annoyed than worried. ]

Immature? What does that have to do with this?

[ he's so rude ]

[wisterin]

My, what doesn't it have to do with this? It's better to approach a tense situation with maturity.

[ yelling angrily doesn't usually solve anything. ]

[cuedoves]

You're sitting here drinking tea. That's pretty mature.

[ it's what iroh would do.... ]

i

[aono]

[Oh no she's hot. And the knife action just makes her hotter.]

Er...no, I haven't. Why, are you cold?

[wisterin]

[ she smiles. ]

In a way. I think it'd be nice to burn something.

[aono]

I don't think a knife is gonna burn that easily.

ii

[unsaid]

[mikazuki munechika is also taking his tea, because of course he is. he glances in her direction.]

... there are times where maturity may be a bit - how do they say? Overrated.

[wisterin]

[ she slowly turns to face him. ]

Even so, I want to cling to it right now.

[unsaid]

I want to believe you will find it.

[a glance to her knuckles and the tight hold]

... but like calm, it may elude those who wish to grasp for it most. Or at the very least, it is not something that comes easy to those who are solitary.

Would you tell an old man of your troubles?

I!

[overruns]

[ he knows what kind of smile this is. but he's relieved—sort of, it's complicated—to see her all the same, hurrying over. ]

Shinobu—!? [ wait ] A fire pit...?

[wisterin]

[ relieved but complicated is a mood. the surprise takes the edge away from her smile. ]

Dimitri, is that your first question?

[ her disappointment that isn't visible but is audible. ]

[overruns]

[ it's one tag and she's already tired of his shit ]

To be fair, I have many questions.