suitedreams | WEEKEND ZERO: MINGLE PT2

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

[hm.]

We both hail from Fódlan... I knew him before ever getting entangled in situations such as these.

I see. Does that mean you're familiar with Byleth and Dimitri as well?

[her brow furrows a little at the question, but she nods.]

Yes... I am. For you to ask such a thing, I assume you must have met them...?

Yes. The two of them were also present in our game. However... the "versions" you're familiar with and the ones I know may not be the same. Claude has already corroborated that with me regarding Dimitri.

I see. I suppose that makes some degree of sense... Even during my last experience, my memories did not quite line up with Dimitri's, though there were some things that were constant in both of them.

It stands to reason that it would be possible for there to be different... "versions," and for you to have encountered them.

[ he nods! ]

Exactly. Alternate timelines are both an academic and personal interest of mine, so to see such examples expressed so blatantly here is fascinating to me.

What were they like? ...the... Dimitri and Byleth that you knew.

I'm afraid I didn't get to speak with Dimitri much during my time there... I can say that the version I met was about five years older than the one here. He seemed a little more... closed off. I assume that's the result of whatever events have yet to happen for this version.

Byleth... was a very kind woman. She was given a hard task, and carried out her duties in order to spare one of us—the younger participants of our game—from having to do the same. [ ... ] I was 14 back then, so I think she saw me in the same way as she did her students.

I see...

[flayn looks down, deep in thought. after a moment, she nods.]

That... makes sense. There is very little she would not do for the sake of the students she looks after. I have seen that firsthand, in Fódlan.