WEEKEND ZERO: MINGLE PT2

[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

he looks like it

[malewife]

I'm alive.

[ So yes?? But his expression really conveys "of course I won." ]

STOP i hate you

[unrecked]

You sure about that? Because the last game like this I was in, it was purgatory. So, you know, you might actually be dead.

[Haha.]

[malewife]

I'm sure.

[ Dying is in his notable skills. ]

You checked your pulse? You could have been brought to the realm of the afterlife without dying by otherworldly means. I wouldn't consider it dead.

[unrecked]

Ah, semantics. Dead is dead. You scared of calling it like it is?

[Dying might be (same hat), but maybe he's chicken. Who knows.]

[malewife]

[ Squints. He just called him scared? ]

Death is death. It is what it is and it's not what it's not. Dying and being sent to the Underworld is different from traveling to the Underworld. The former you died once, the latter you are not dead.

[ ACTUALLY, HE'S GETTING SO WORKED UP OVER THIS? ]

[unrecked]

[This dude is hilarious. So many people here have Damian energy, he can’t take it.]

Okay, chill out, Hades, before you pop a blood vessel. [Wrong person.] I really don’t think we are taking a little traipse to the Underworld. If we’re there, we’re dead. If we’re not—lucky you, we’re alive.

I thought I was bad. Lighten up, dude. You’re so impacted.

[malewife]

You can consider yourself dead if you're happy with that.

[ Weirdo. He's so close to insulting orv Hades without meaning to, but dude is okay. ]

This place is too gaudy and manicured for the Underworld.

[ Insults in another way. ]

[unrecked]

Nah, I’ve been dead before. I’m pretty alive right now. Unless we’re dead here and don’t know it yet.

[He glances around the place! Wow! So posh! He seems a bit amused still.]

What, you don’t think the Underworld can decorate? Maybe they called in a designer. Nothing like gaudy interior decorating to entice more people to be dead.

Give ‘em a little credit. They’re trying to trick you into feeling pampered so you’ll forget they’re twisting your arm with someone you care about.

[malewife]

The Underworld has a theme, but at least they should dress up their dining room for guests.

[ He says that like he's entitled to it. ]

Only a fool would be distracted by a gift shop and a pool.

[unrecked]

Maybe we should just be thankful to have food at all in the Underworld.

[He’s just saying.]

You would be surprised by how many fools exist in the world. They would get distracted by a gift shop and a pool.

[malewife]

They eat stories.

[ But he says that with a tone of disgust. Very "don't eat Underworld food."

Time to SQUINT at Jason more. ]

Are you enamored by the gift shop and pool?

[unrecked]

Stories, huh? They bored?

[Haha,,

Anyhow, he doesn’t seem bothered by the squint. What? He’s innocent.]

No? Not unless they’re handing me a key to get to what they took. You, uh, looked in the gift shop, or swam in the pool? Maybe you should.

[malewife]

Most gods are.

[ Yeah!! He doesn't look innocent. ]

Me.

[ HE should look at the gift shop or swim in the pool? HIM? ]

[unrecked]

You're not wrong.

[This guy.]

No, the emotionally constipated, taciturn dude behind you. Yeah, you. Ever been swimming? Ever bought a souvenir? You really ought to live a little. You a "duty before pleasure" kinda guy? I know a little brat like that, too.

[malewife]

[ Leers... EMOTIONALLY CONSTIPATED? TACITURN? ]

Don't project. Duty means nothing to me. [ ... ] I can swim.

[ Cause importantly he has to say this. ]

[unrecked]

Damn, not even duty? You sound a little boring.

[Imagine not even caring about duty.]

Wow, that's so cool! [Quickly, in the driest tone:] Me too.

[Is YJH tired of Jason Todd yet?]

You actually fight like the guestbook says?

[malewife]

[ Joonghyuk is too selfish for duty. Anyway, not offended by boring. That's okay with him.

HE IS TIRED OF JASON. But Jason could be worse. ]

Why?

[ Obviously, yes. ]

[unrecked]

[Why do you keep playing Hisoka adjacent people, Hei.]

Spar me sometime.

[Does he like to fight...? He could win... maybe.]

[malewife]

[ EXCUSE ME? ]

I'm not interested in men.

[ Instantly thinks Jason is hitting on him and this is an excuse for date. ]

[unrecked]

[He makes a bit of a face, but doesn't seem offended really.]

Uh. What kind of guys do you talk to who hit on you by beating the shit out of you? Anyway, neither am I. And even if I was, you wouldn't be my type. [Dumbass.] I just thought I found someone who would throw some hands with me.

I figured no one else would.

[malewife]

[ Good on Jason taking this so easily. Joonghyuk didn't mean to offend and also isn't offended.

He doesn't... Answer the first question, but he looks off to the side with a dark expression. He doesn't want to talk about it. ]

You'd be wrong, then. A couple attacked me unprovoked.

[unrecked]

[YJH? Dude??

Both of his brows rise; he looks suddenly rather interested.] A couple of people... attacked you. Unprovoked. [Wow. There is something fishy about this. He has only just met YJH and--yeah. Hilarious.]

Seriously? Did you know them?

[malewife]

[ why are you interested in the gay drama he didn't ask for, man ]

No. [ STRANGERS!! ] All I did was throw them up the steps to see if they could pass through if they had no intention to go to the next floor. They overreacted.

[ That is definitely provoked. ]

[unrecked]

[Jesus. He looks at the sky briefly, not knowing whether to seem amused or exasperated.]

Did they? Because if you threw me up the stairs without asking, I’d probably break both your arms.

You can’t just toss people around and expect them not to try to fight you. That’s how it works. Wouldn’t you fight me if I just grabbed you and chucked you?

[malewife]

You wouldn’t be able to throw me.

[ SO YES HE WOULD ALSO BREAK YOUR ARMS. That isn’t the point (no it is). ]

However, there is no immediate danger. They’re just stairs.