a gent of good intent who's content to be ( OPEN )

[checkingin]

Who: Everyone!
Where: The initial arrival rooms, the main lobby, all over the place.
When: March 3rd
What: Welcome, newbies.

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 a warmly crackling fireplace, to your right is a lobby desk. straight ahead are three large sets of doors, though only one of them is open to the public. 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.

terribly sorry for the inconvenience.

SCREENING ROOM.

on a long pull-down screen, a silent version of the phantom carriage 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 popcorn and a large hot drink dispenser full of hot water, but without any tea or hot chocolate packets around.

OTHER.

the ballroom is currently closed, and the grand doors locked.

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

the doors to the courtyard and breakfast hall are unlocked, but looks like you've missed the morning meal. sucks for you.

ROOMS.

you've a room key with your assigned room number on it. all the new guest residences will be located on floors three and four. 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.

it's late when the newcomers arrive, there's a good chance you'd been about to go to sleep (or just waking up, who knows, your mom's not here to tell you when to go to bed or get up). but if you're paying attention, you might hear the hustle and bustle in the lobby below; or maybe you're just drawn there because your gut told you to go join the commotion. whatever the case may be, go mingle!

Comments

[sheriffing]

Not really, but that doesn't mean they aren't here.]

[Nineteen names is a hell of a list, but she's pretty sure she'll remember most of them if she goes looking.

Most kids in Newt's place would be losing it by now. Seeing him take this so well just makes her feel like he's been through too much. He wears that a little openly, especially when he talks about WICKED and the things he's been through.

Whatever it is, it isn't good. Emma's tone softens almost in acknowledgement of it, like she doesn't want to scare this kid off when she's discovered (one minute into the conversation) that he has plenty of reasons to run.]

I can almost guarantee you that the whole group isn't here, but if I find any of them, I'll send them your way. . . . I'm Emma.

[Because she's suddenly aware she has every name but his.]

[gluestick]

[ Been through too much is an understatement for what WICKED put them through. He's lost it before, knows better than to lose it again no matter how much he feels like he wants to. Alby's not here anymore, he has to stay strong on his own.

Newt rubs at his neck, over the tattoo printed there. WICKED probably separated them, if what this woman is saying is true, which he's still skeptical of. His trust is reserved for the other Gladers, WICKED's made sure he'll have trouble trusting most else for a while. But at least one of them has to be here, or maybe they were meant to find each other again? He's sick of trials. ]

Thanks. The name's Newt. I'd be real delighted to meet you Emma if the circumstances were different, but considerin' all this- [ He gestures around them. ] Can't say it's much of a pleasure, sorry.

[sheriffing]

It's alright, there's nothing delightful about this.

[Frustrating, infuriating, and awful are words she'd use. She's not sure whether or not this kid is going to find his friends here, so trying to help him is the best she can do. He doesn't have to trust her - Emma knows better than to expect that here - but if he does end up needing help, at least he'll know someone's willing to try.

This hotel has a way of making her feel powerless. Reaching out to the new arrivals is just about all she has the power to do here.]

Be careful around here, alright? This place leaves a lot to be desired.

[gluestick]

Can't be any worse than the buggin' Maze, honestly. Unless there's Grievers in the halls at night, it's probably an upgrade from the last trial. I'll be fine, don't need strangers worryin' over me.

[ Hypocritical coming from him, really. But it's different being on the other end of it, he doesn't think he needs it, or rather deserves the worry. ]

[sheriffing]

Fair enough.

[She knows that feeling, she does, it's just - ]

But be careful anyway.

[gluestick]

Yeah, yeah. I will.

[He sounds exasperated at having to say it, but it's mostly just because he's worried about all of the friends he can't find than it really is against here.]

Thanks, I guess.