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suitedreams2022-06-04 01:28 pm
guestservices) wrote in suitedreams2022-06-04 01:28 pm
Entry tags:
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.̷
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Oh, so... Kind of like what Sebastian was talking about? Like, a copy of yourself, but you don't have a way to tell that it's a copy because it feels like you while you're there?
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[ She nods. ]
It probably doesn't help that we were also brainwashed to assume that those were are real lives, so... it was quite problematic.
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Wait - brainwashed? Why? By who?
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[ How does she... describe this... ]
By, um... a singer? A virtual singer...
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—Oh, okay. You don't have to get into it if you don't want to.
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[ She leans back in her seat. ]
She very well had good intentions. She was created by people in the real world to sing songs, but from what I’m aware of her empathy helped her develop a virtual world where others could escape to.
But then they couldn’t leave. Not when she wanted them to have the perfect life that they envisioned; she meant no harm in doing so, but it still brought another problem…
People can’t just have their mind in another world and neglect the conditions of their real body, you know?
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[he frowns.]
Did everyone make it out eventually?
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... There are some people who desperately wish for that world to be their reality, though, so... The decision to destroy that world was a difficult one.
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[he doesn't know enough about virtual reality to know if that's true, but he can't imagine they'd just be able to live on through there.]
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But the reason for the neglect is due to being in a coma. The longer one stays, the more likely they would die -- I... have a friend, actually, who had spent so much time within that world that by the time he came back into reality again he could no longer walk.
A little longer and...
[ DEATH! ]
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[and his expression reflects that. very concerning! after a moment:]
Can he learn to walk again, do you think, or is it permanent?
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... But the time taken away from him to do physical therapy won't ever be returned to him.
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[but at least there's that hope.]