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

[decaptych]

It's called garbage can, not garbage cannot, as they say. [ Fingergun. ] Be as trashy as you want! But you know, stay legally trashy. At least if you do it when you're on the clock, nobody's gonna come chasing you down with a knife and tell you to put the garbage down.

[unrecked]

[Ok. That makes him chuckle. He hates it.]

Come on now. Where's the fun in that? I can't run from the police if I'm not illegally doing the whole garbage man gig my way, right? Sometimes, you just have to shake the trash in front of them before you book it.

You must be shocked I still have a job, but I assure you, there's always trash in Gotham.

[decaptych]

You can run from the police any time you want. It's a mindset. [ Is it? ] But hey, you sound like someone funny to work with.

[ The imagery of Jason shaking trash at a police officer going 'come and try me, I did my time motherfucker' is a lot. ]

Real glad this Gotham place is keeping trash on the streets, 'cause there's no better-paying job than trashman.

[unrecked]

Sometimes, you laugh to keep from crying.

[But if you laugh too much you turn into the Joker, and Jason absolutely refuses to turn into a piece of shit like that guy. Tch.]

You say that, but it's hard being a garbage man when Batman thinks he runs the city. He really hates all the garbage. Thinks he's a certified garbage man himself. Always tries to clean it up.

[He doesn't hate Bruce, but he will definitely dunk on Bruce whenever he can get the chance.]

[decaptych]

[ JASON YOU CAN'T BE AFRAID OF LAUGHING JUST BECAUSE OF THE JOKER

But ]

... Yeah, I hear that.

[ Moving on very quickly: ]

Sorry, did you say a bat man?

[unrecked]

[Oh noooooo, their depression. Oh noooo.]

Batman, yeah. Guy who dresses up like a bat? Loves to punch the bad guys and stuff.

[decaptych]

[ (Heavy Rain Voice) JASON ]

Dang. This name is really on the nose huh.

How do you feel about your alpha garbage man being a dude who dresses up in a bat costume? Did you know where I'm from, there's these huuuge-ass bats?

[ He's really genuinely imagining like, a normal bat btw. Like the arms come with big bat wing flaps. ]

[unrecked]

[NOT THAT JASON]

Oh, we have one of those. Uh, sorta. Manbat. [VERY FUNNY. Aikawa is going to be confused.] I dunno. We don't have great history.

[lol]

The bad guys are scared of him, but most people like him okay.

[decaptych]

[ JAAASON ]

Cool, Batman and Manbat, together they make the perfect trash-picking-up pair!

[ It's also hard to tell if like. Well it's probably clear he's also fucking around but this is so funny. ]

Damn, is it all the fighting for position of alpha? You can be number one to me.

[ Really appreciate that he came here to snidely bitch about Batman. ]

[unrecked]

[Okay, he has to laugh a little.] No, you've--hold on, I'll come back to that in a second. [NOT THE OMEGAVERSE] You've got the wrong idea. Batman hates working with anyone else. Manbat? He's one of the bad guys. He's just a little stronger than the everyday thugs.

[God, why does he have to talk about omegaverse.]

I'm not really interested in alpha position. I try to keep my shit separate from Batman. He always gets in the way.

[decaptych]

[ THE OMEGAVERSE??? THIS IS CALLED THE OMEGAVERSE??? Anna I'm losing my mind. ]

Oh. Maybe they balance each other out in a weird way. Are there any Batbats or Manmans?

For a guy that you say is technically a good guy, sounds like you really don't like him.

[unrecked]

[LMFSIFHDS STOP I MEANT BECAUSE AIKAWA SAID SOMETHING ABOUT ALPHA!!!!!]

Nah, no Batbats or Manmans. Well, I guess we do have Manmans, those are just called humans.

[He hates the idea of calling them Manmans, though.]

He's a little too good of a guy. [He will not talk about all of his Bruce baggage right now.] Got a lot of high morals. I'm just trying to stay in my own lane.

[decaptych]

[ YOU COULD TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT THESE COMICS AND I WOULD BELIEVE YOU ]

Yeah, you're right. I guess that's just... men.

[ Man Squared. ]

Riiight, so, kinda high and toity maybe, is what I'm getting from this. Sounds like you really needed to let loose some steam, guy.

What's your name, even?

[unrecked]

[AAAAAA lowe assigning batman as omegaverse]

It's hard to explain. [About how Batman acts, he means. Also TCH. He hates he can't just go around and pretentiously say his name is Red to everyone like before. Sucks.] Jason.

You read? [This sounds like a genuine question, not a joke.] There's a guestbook at the front desk. It has a place card in it for everyone here. Gotta lot of info. Even you.

Aikawa.

[decaptych]

[ I wouldn't be surprised, Joker is in there, that feels like a guy who would inflict OMGverse on people for shits and giggles. ]

I read but not on purpose. [ What. ] No yeah, I can read, but I haven't really looked at it. I'm more just kinda, waiting and hoping all of this will blow over and I'll just be able to walk out tomorrow, or something.

[ ME REALISING I HANEN'T PLAYED CHARACTERS WHO READ THE IC PROFILES FOR A YEAR STRAIGHT, WHY ]

Saves me the introduction though, if you already read it.

[unrecked]

[stop, don't say that

Also WHAT? Jason metaphorically looks at the camera. Reading... not on purpose. Can't wait for Aikawa to see Bizarro later maybe. Two of them.]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, man, but I don't think this is going to just blow over. And if my round lasted at least five days, you're probably not walking out of here tomorrow.

[Sorry, Aikawa.]

[decaptych]

[ I'M RIGHT

But also I'm crying yeah if we're alive memshare me Bizarro so I can see how deep this rabbit hole goes. ]

Five days? Don't tell me by 'round', there was like... murder?

[unrecked]

[Oh, buddy.]

Yeah. There was murder. There was murder every day for a week. The good news is the consensus with everyone else seems to be eight weeks, so. Silver linings?

[decaptych]

...Yeaaah, that's, oof. Yikes. Sorry you had to go through that.

I'm one of those eight-weekers. Neither of them are good.

[unrecked]

[He waves a hand dismissively. PEOPLE KEEP APOLOGIZING TO HIM, AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT BECAUSE THIS NEVER HAPPENS HARDLY BACK HOME.]

I figured. You run into anyone here you know?

[decaptych]

[ A WEEK STRAIGHT OF NOTHING BUT MURDER IS PRETTY WILD JASON. Though mood. ]

Yeah, a couple. There's been like, five other people I know from Wiwaldi? Most of 'em were dead with me, and then there's Claude I guess.

[ Claude I Guess ]

[unrecked]

[CLAUDE. That's fair. He has had a great time tormenting Claude.]

I met him. Thought he was going to hold my hand because he felt sorry I had some emotional baggage. I would say it's good you know some people, but the way it's looking... it might not be such a great thing.

[decaptych]

[ I hope Claude makes at least one friend who doesn't torment him. Our funny blorbo. ]

Who, Claude? [ He actually laughs a little at the thought of it. ] He's a soft guy, maybe. What do they call 'em, friend-shaped?

[ He chinhands on the table though, sighing. Man... ]

I guess. I dunno, it's better than showing up alone.

[unrecked]

[No, don’t give Claude friends or a good time!!

Aikawa thinks Claude is friend-shaped, though. Interesting.]

Like me, huh.

[He’s just fucking with him.]

[decaptych]

[ Be nice to Claude!! That is Caiman's blorbo sort of!! He's got a lot of blorbos from seasonality because he accidentally put them in deep shit and feels sorry about it. ]

Heh, sure. Didn't know you wanted to be called friend-shaped, but you can be in my books if you want.