sit yourself down, and meet the best inn keeper in town ( O P E N )

[checkingin]

Who: Everyone!
Where: The initial arrival rooms, the main lobby, all over the place.
When: February 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.

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 tall pull-down screen, a silent version of nosferatu 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 timey music.

along the curtained windows is another long table, with a large bowl that looked like it once would have held popcorn. but is now unfortunately empty. same for the large hot drink dispensers labeled "hot chocolate" and "coffee".

OTHER.

the ballroom and breakfast hall are currently closed, grand doors locked.

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

the door to the courtyard is locked.

ROOMS.

you've a room key with your assigned room number on it. all the new guest residences will be located on floors one & 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'd 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.

Comments

Lobby/Front Desk

[mygame]

[Maybe a familiar voice will drag Lydia back even if the one it comes from isn't exactly a person to be glad to see.]

Can I help you, ma'am?

[While she was taken with the rain, the Nogitsune had wandered back to its sometimes new favorite place to haunt. She's the first of the Beacon Hills group that he's met, a test run so to speak. The question now is how to handle this, what opening gambit to make in this game.]

[And, of course, why change what's been working for it so far?]

[It keeps all expression except for polite disinterest on its face, a bland look that holds no recognition of her. Acting always had been one of its best used methods.]

There a problem with one of the windows? I can make a note for one of our repairmen to fix it tomorrow. Can't have the hotel falling into disrepair with so many new arrivals.

[villainously]

You're a hard woman to miss, even when you're not doused in feathers and black velvet. [ he's got to give it to her, the queen knows how to dress impressively. clearly something that the pirate can appreciate.

(a part of him kind of misses his swashbuckling style.)

when she walks in, unsurprisingly, he's expecting to talk about their current predicament. not his current predicament. his eyes narrow, a conflicting mass of things running through him at the very accurate assessment. he doesn't want to go into his (yes, admittedly foolish) decision with anyone. especially not Regina Mills. ]

I don't see how that is going to help us get out of here. If the Crocodile did it [ and it's not impossible, Baelfire is here and that's all the Dark One really wants ] I think we'd know by now.

[1_truth]

[ Yeah, he's just going to pointedly ignore that comment about talking weird. ]

All the hotels I've ever been to in the past had kitchens. [ But then again he usually stayed in high dollar hotels-life as a rich kid and what not. ]

[1_truth]

[ Conan freezes and turns sharply to face the person approaching, dragging his eyes slowly over his appearance in order to get a good solid read on this guy. Not exactly how he'd expect the staff to look and he wasn't wearing a name tag of any kind. He supposed that didn't necessarily mean anything but surely the owner of the hotel would want their staff to be approachable and not just blend in with the other guests. ]

I forgot which was my room-I was trying to find it in the log book but it seems to be missing. Can you help me find my dad?

[64th]

All the hotels I've ever been to in the past had exits. [ she shrugs. but she wasn't usually at her choice, either. ]

You don't like it here, do you?

[villainously]

[ a shot does make him a little less cross, but christ he's not going to have many of those left. he needs to find a goddamn bar or he's going to go utterly mad.

the introduction is a bit out of place but this is a day of oddities, isn't it? why not introduce yourself to the man you just randomly happened upon in a trashed inn room? ] Killian Jones. I don't recognize you.

[ seems like an off the wall statement but the pirate is still adjusting to the fact he's not in storybrooke anymore. it's still odd to see faces he doesn't recognize. ]

[1_truth]

[ So. Still no sign of Ran. When he was kidnapped he was with her so it stood to reason she should be here somewhere but this place seemed to be against reason. ]

No, but I do live with her and her dad. I was at an Inn with them-a different one and now I can't find them. They should be here, right?

[villainously]

[ he looks at her blandly. why would he recognize her? all right, he's seen quite a few faces in Storybrooke but he doesn't have names to match them. unless she's a charming or an evil queen, he's not exactly on name-to-name basis with most of the town.

it still hasn't occurred to him that he might not be in Storybrooke anymore. ]

No, can't say I do. [ it's more odd to him that she doesn't know his face, because like it or not, all of Storybrooke knows the villain that nearly killed them all in the past. his hook isn't present but he still looks like himself. ] Captain Hook, just without my namesake. Ring any bells?

[1_truth]

[ Okay, so she had a point. But he still stood by his if they can get in they can get out logic. ]

I've been here less than an hour. Although, I can't say I ever like getting kidnapped.

[mygame]

I am sorry, Sir, but our guest register is kept in the concierge's office, and he has left for the evening. It's the rain, you see. Causing all sorts of flooding on the side roads. Perhaps when he returns in the morning, he can check our records for you.

[Black eyes stared back at Conan with all the animation of a stuffed animal. Given its too pale skin and the dark shadows around its eyes, the Nogitsune has the look of the terminally ill. It try to scare a child? Absolutely. Still, it keeps the bland empty look on its face and voice professionally interested but nothing more.]

I am afraid I don't know some of our newest arrivals. Your name, Sir?

[64th]

[ she assumes they must be in Panem, but only because she doesn't believe anything exists outside of it anymore. but if he doesn't know who she is, and she's never heard of this allegedly well known Captain Hook, then what the hell is happening? ]

Never heard of you. [ she shakes her head. is that disappointing for him? she likes being recognized it. she did earn it, after all. ] I'm Cashmere. Of Gloss and Cashmere. [ as though repeating the two things he's learned about her will help. she elaborates: ] The twin victors from One? [ this is the first time she's had to introduce herself in 10 years. this can't be real. ]

leo fitz | open!!

[technologist]

A | SCREENING ROOM

[ It probably seems counterintuitive to seek out some quiet after waking up in a strange (and undeniably creepy) building. But after a few minutes of anxious strangers, that's exactly what Fitz does, slipping out of the main lobby and into the flickering dark of the screening room.

He takes one look at the screen before looking elsewhere, gaze trailing over the dimly lit table along the curtained windows. He wanders over, inspects the drink dispensers — nothing — then picks up the empty bowl, turning it upside down. More nothing.

The sound of footsteps behind him registers belatedly, abruptly enough for him to startle, swinging around to face whoever's approaching. The bowl's dropped on the table, wobbling around on its rim before clapping to a stop.

It occurs to him that he should do something, or say something, and between the bizarre everything and his nerves, what he ends up going with is: ]

There isn't any food.

[ Nailed it. ]

B | ROOMS (FLOOR ONE)

[ Going to the assigned room feels a little bit like giving up. Fitz gets as far as door 115 before freezing up, and he stands in front of the room for a solid minute, key in one hand and suitcase in the other. When he finally gets up the nerve to unlock it, it gives way easily, already open.

That begs another short hesitation. Then he moves, cautiously stepping into the room and blindly flipping on the lights.

It's completely innocuous. The window earns a curious glance before he places his suitcase on the bed, and the second he opens it his motivation picks up. There's a smaller case inside; he grabs it, opens it, then steps over to the wall between his room and the halls and starts knocking lightly on the wallpaper.

Which is noisy enough, probably, but it's made more so by the fact that he hasn't bothered to close the door. He'd rather keep the exit entirely open. ]

[1_truth]

But what do I do until then? Dad's gonna start getting worried.

[ It's not a completely ridiculous reason. Still, it's a little odd the log book would be taken out of the room incase of late night arrivals. Then again this place seemed to have no actual main entrance so what good would that log do? ]

My name is Conan-Edogawa Conan. [ Considering it's not actually his name he has nothing against giving it to a stranger. ] But hey, you don't look very good. Maybe you should sleep-you have really dark circles under your eyes.

[64th]

Do you get kidnapped often? [ she frowns, thinking this over. ] Has this happened to you before? Is that why you're so calm about it? [ or - maybe he's lying. maybe he didn't just show up. maybe he's part of the hotel. ]

[mygame]

[The Nogitsune gives a small nod of its head in acknowledgement.]

I am pleased to meet you, Conan Edogawa Conan. As I said, I am Stiles.

[Given that the Nogitsune is a Japanese spirit, it is well aware of the mistake it is making in the boy's name. It gestures towards the Screening Room, an empty smile coming to its lips as if it were nothing more than a windup toy left on duty. Most adults or even teenagers would be concerned about a child, wouldn't they?]

I can assure you that I am not tired or unwell. As for your father, perhaps he went to watch the film we have playing tonight? There are only a few places open to guests tonight. I am sure he must be around somewhere.

[engender]

Out from where? Do you mean here or before you woke up here?

[1_truth]

I live with a famous detective. You'd be surprised what lengths some people will go to get their cases solved. Or keep someone from the truth.

[ Or what his parents will do to convince him his life is too dangerous. But he's not mentioning anything about those two. ]

later

[technologist]

Are you sure you should be doing that?

[ Fitz has been watching the guy go through cabinets for a solid thirty seconds, waiting to see if he'd find anything. He doesn't, predictably, and the question's more genuinely curious than chastising.

He's standing a few yards off, arms crossed somewhat defensively over his chest, shoulders a bit hunched. It gives the impression that he's only fifty-fifty about the decision to start a conversation, but points for trying. ]

[1_truth]

It's just Conan. [ He corrects automatically, not even really thinking about it as he looks over at the screening room. Considering as far as Shinichi is aware his dad is L.A. he highly doubts if he's in the screening room but really all the wanted was a good excuse to wander about the hotel and explore. ]

He went to the room earlier, but I don't remember the room number. That's why I needed the log book.

[64th]

The arena. Then here. I thought this was the arena but apparently no one else knows what I'm talking about. [ she looks away from him, still not entirely convinced that any of them are safe. how can any of this be real? maybe she's already dead. that makes more sense to her than most theories she can come up with. ] What's the last thing you remember before here?

lobby/elevator

[technologist]

It doesn't work.

[ Is the extremely helpful explanation he offers, about two seconds after she voices her frustration regarding the lift. It occurs to Fitz that yes, she's obviously aware, and he glances back down the hallway before deciding bailing would make that introduction even worse, so— ]

I thought maybe I could get to the wiring, see if it's broken or there's some sort of lock on it, but I haven't got the— the um.

[ He lifts a hand, snapping his fingers quietly before gesturing with it, as if he's holding something. ] The um...

[ No luck finding the word. He doubts everyone's programmed to play charades with a stranger, so moving on. ] To get behind the panel.

[mygame]

Conan, then. As I said, our guest register will be unavailable until the morning when our concierge arrives. If you wish, I can have him contact you when he arrives.

[Its hands fold before it on the top of the desk as it shakes its head slowly in regret.]

Until then, I am sorry but there is very little that can be done. Perhaps one of our other guests will let you use their room or you could use one of the couches down here near the fire.

[A new twist in the game might be called for. A little something to poke around some. The Nogitsune frowns without reason, blinking a few times before refocusing on Conan. That blankness comes back, all human animation or signs of confusion gone.]

I'm sorry, Mr Conan. Glitches like this happen at times. What did you say your father's name was? Derek Hale?

[villainously]

[ it's odd enough that she doesn't recognize Captain Hook — nobody in Storybrooke or the Enchanted Forest is unaware of him. he's not known for particularly good reasons, granted, he's still bloody known. his eyebrows hike more in confusion than annoyance...

and it only gets worse when she introduces herself, brings up this Gloss again, and what does the last bit even mean? ] Right, is that something from Storybrooke? Only arrived a bit ago. [ he missed out on twenty eight years of curse, that's the best he can guess. ]

[larker]

[The comeback from Kirk gets a big grin, Gabriel leaning back slightly. Holding the table down, that was actually a really good one and the trickster merely shrugs in answer.]

Oh it's working out really well, this table isn't going anywhere right now. Anyway those windows won't open, and trust me when I say they won't break either. Sucks for people wanting out, but on the other hand makes them great for taking frustration out on them. Go ahead, try that out.

[larker]

Lived in a detective agency? There are so many jokes in that I don't know where to start, which is lucky for you. And even if you've seen several, I bet you've seen nothing like this.

[Even Gabriel hasn't seen anything like this, and that is a big problem right there. The only place the angel even knows of that has no escape hatches is Purgatory, and the lack of monsters and things with teeth means this place likely isn't it.

So then what the hell is it? If angels needed sleep, Gabriel would probably be losing it.] For all we know it's not even the same world, universe, reality. All that hocus pocus jazz.