I USED TO DREAM THAT I WOULD MEET A PRINCE

[checkingin]

Who: Everyone!
Where: The initial arrival rooms, the main lobby, all over the place.
When: May 7th
What: Feed me, Seymour

ARRIVAL.

you wake up when you hit the floor in a dark room, and the air is knocked out of your lungs. the carpet is threadbare, worn with use, kind of dusty. and you're not the first person to endure this crash landing. nor will you be the last.

once your vision rights itself, you can see the well-lit hallway through the doorjam straight ahead of you. not to say there’s monsters in the shadows, but something propels you towards that door and out into the bright hallway beyond.

and once outside your room, you can hear it: the steady thrum of rain outside.

MAIN LOBBY.

there's a staircase at the end of the lengthy hallway you tumble out of. grab your suitcase and follow the dull green exit signs on the ceiling until you reach the disappointingly bland stairs that lead you down to the ornate old fashion hotel lobby.

to your left is an richly crackling, rather excessively smoking fireplace, to your right is a lobby desk. straight ahead are three large sets of doors, all three of them thrown wide open and welcoming. and outside the few (curtained, permanently dark) windows is the continually steady hiss of rain. once you leave the hallway you wake up in, you won't be able to return.

welcome to the hotel.

FRONT DESK.

though there is a bell and a plaque designating the desk to be the main desk, the customer service desk, there are currently no staff members behind it. none shall answer your calls, either. there is, however, a pad of paper and a pen neatly aligned with the desk edge. you know. for notes.

terribly sorry for the inconvenience.

SCREENING ROOM.

on a long pull-down screen, a silent version of alice in wonderland will be playing on loop. at the back of the room, between the neat rows of fold out chairs, mounted on a wobbly table is the old-timey projector, and mounted on the walls are some rather old speakers that warble out "terrifying" old music.

along the curtained windows is another long table, with a large bowl of chipotle cheese popcorn corn and a large hot drink dispenser full of hot water, with a few cups and some old looking packages of apple cider mix.

DINING HALL.

is tragically, painfully empty.

OTHER.

the ballroom is currently open, and the grand doors unlocked.

there is no main door leading to the outside, good luck trying to find one.

the doors to the courtyard are unlocked.

ROOMS.

you've a room key with your assigned room number on it. all the new guest residences will be located on floors one and two. while there is an open elevator in the main lobby, and the buttons light up inside, the doors will not close. all in all, you'll be better off taking the stairs.

while they're the same stairs you undoubtedly came down to get to the lobby, the door to the endless hall everyone woke up in will not reappear between the main floor and the subsequent residential halls.

there are twenty rooms per floor. feel free to get to know your surroundings; or your neighbors as they trickle in around you.

EXISTING GUESTS.

are you dreaming of omlettes and regretting complaining about the constant pancakes and weak ass coffee yet?

Comments

116

[pajarita]

[Well, it's on her floor, what do you expect? For her not to pass by the open door? It could be someone she knows. Or - it could just be a room that looks like a hurricane went through it.

She spots the guy looking like he's just lost all the lotteries sitting on the bed, and knocks.]

You missed a spot.

[cgrades]

[ He'd meant to shut the door, but he was in a rush, in a pure state of panic, as if the room hadn't said that. He looks up from his place on the bed, a wry, sickly-sweet smile on his face. ]

Oh? Did I? A shame. Thank you.

[ He isn't in a playful mood, that's for sure. ]

[pajarita]

There's no bug. [She's just guessing here. Who knows, maybe he's just a messy sleeper. She shrugs after the offered, curt explanation.] No cams either.

[cgrades]

I noticed.

[ He gestures wryly to the room he's recently upended to try and find any sign of tech. ]

Just these tablets, which could be the problem in and of themselves. Likely monitoring through it's software. I understand there are people controlling this place, but they're never seen. Peculiar.

[pajarita]

Peculiar is putting it lightly. [She leans against the doorway, even though she hasn't been invited to.]

Don't let the name fool you, they're not Generous at all.

[cgrades]

Oh, aren't they? A free stay in a hotel, quite Generous. Not that I'd need the freebie.

[ He frowns and sits back on the edge of the bed, wringing his hands together. Also on the bed? A pack of deli turkey and dog biscuits. All the things he was given upon arrival. ]

How long have you been here, then? Seems like you've made yourself comfortable. [ Both in the hotel and in his doorway. ]

[pajarita]

Three months. [Three, really? Or maybe more. She counts: hunger, freezing temperatures, insanity. Yeah, feels like three months. Someone needs to fork out a calendar.

And in spite of the food on his bed, she doesn't ask. Doesn't offer anything either, doesn't beg. Raven Reyes doesn't beg.]

[cgrades]

And no way out?

[ He knows the answer -- everyone does, at this point, but it doesn't hurt to ask. ]

Grand. [ But he does know about the food shortage, and even his own stomach is beginning to growl. Without regular meals, he'd have to ration what he had. ] Terrible rooms, terrible service, and no continental breakfast. I'm not certain that can be classified as a hotel.

[ And he opens the package of deli meat, considering it before, out of the smallest speck of goodness in his heart? Offers it to her, first. She's been here longer, after all, and if his training has taught him anything, it's this. ] It's probably shit, to be honest, but better than nothing. Beats the dog biscuits.

[pajarita]

[Holy shit, meat. Is that meat? She steps into the room like she's some deer approaching a deer trap. (She hasn't hunted, spoiler.)] Beats the nothing.

[She reaches out, and all of a sudden stops, looks at him to check.] Are you sure you want to share this? We're not big on food right now. [And her stomach grumbles like whyyyyyy.]

[cgrades]

I wouldn't bother offering if I didn't want to share it, trust me. I'd be happy keeping it to myself, if you object. It will spoil soon enough anyway, better to eat it while it lasts.

[ Charlie shrugs, rolling his eyes at her hesitancy before he shoves the package into her hand. ]

Oh will you eat some already? I do not approve of drooling on the carpets.

[pajarita]

[Yes, she will eat it. She will nibble on the corner of one slice, and give him a look. Like, okay, dude that was rude but also this is food and I'm not stupid.]

Thanks. Raven.

[cgrades]

[ He reaches to take a piece for himself -- already it smells foul, but that may well be his upbringing getting in the way. He certainly wasn't used to low-quality food. But it's food, and it's better than nothing, isn't it? ]

Charlie. How long have you been here, then? Certainly doesn't seem like your first go around.

[ Play nice, he tells himself, she'll have information. And he did just share his food, so. ]

[pajarita]

[Food is food, even if it were mouldy now she'd take it. The facts are, she'd take it because she has othes to share it with. But...that's rude. Or something.]</small< Three months and still going. Yay.

[cgrades]

Three months, really?

[ It's amazing that no one's found a way out yet. The fact that they haven't is even more troubling, however. ] It'll have to open the doors one day. Or someone will find a way out.

[ There has to be a way. ]

[pajarita]

It's a small place and there's a lot of us...the fact that nobody's sounded the alarm on whatever exit there is means one of two things. [There is no exit. They were silenced.]

[cgrades]

I'm not sure I like what that is, either.

[ no exits, too many people, high stress situation -- it was begging for something awful to go wrong. more awful than losing food for a day or two. ]

Everyone friendly, then? [ because he wants to know where the alliances are, and how to get in on them. of course. ]

[pajarita]

We're pissed off and grumpy as hell, but yeah. So friendly.