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

Cashmere | ota

[64th]

-arrival-
[ Cashmere feels the breath ripped from her lungs as she collides with the ground. years and worlds away, she can still hear her trainer's voice echo through her head, screaming for her to get up! faster, faster, faster! there should be water, shouldn't there? that though comes secondarily. she should have fallen in the water. while she tries to work out the water situation (or lack thereof) she's moving on instinct, groping the ground for her knife and not finding it. she's on her feet before she can catch her breath. disorientation edges on panic when she realizes she's alone. where is Gloss? she has to find Gloss.

her surroundings make no sense. she quickly concludes the arena has changed. abandoned building instead of jungle. it will probably change again. ice mountain? desert? swamp? the Capitol's biggest hits starring it's favorite victors. typical.

is there anything useful in the room? she turns once and then again, eyeing it appraisingly but it appears to be just that: a room. what does catch her interest in the light from the hall. she stops before opening the door, listening. the other tributes could be on the other side but there's no sounds of a fight. Cashmere takes a deep breath and then she yanks the door wide open only to find more emptiness. down the hall seems to be her only choice, where she finds the suitcases - sponsor gifts already? she grabs hers, looks for Gloss' but doesn't find it, and has no choice but to follow the sign and hopefully find her brother somewhere along the way. ]

-lobby-
[ still dressed in her arena unitard, Cashmere moves like she isn't sure if she's being hunted or she's doing the hunting. when she reaches the lobby, Cashmere freezes. there are other people but none of them are dressed like tributes and at a quick glance she doesn't recognize any of them. the room is a lot to take in at once. fireplace - possibly useful, but she'd need a stick or a torch or something. the doors also appear promising, but Cashmere goes for option three, approaching the nearest stranger from behind, dropping her suitcase, and grabbing them by both arms all in one swift motion. Cashmere's fast and strong, but she's expecting a fight so it won't be too hard to pull out of her grasp. after all, aren't they supposed to be putting on a good show? ] Where's Gloss? [ please excuse the crazy look in her eyes. ]

-later-
[ the door to her room is open. anyone who happens by will find her methodically investigating every inch of the room and suitcase. the sheets are yanked off the bed, anything that can be opened has been opened. and the tablet? she noticed the camera immediately and threw the sweater from her suitcase on top of it. the contents of her suitcase are spread all over the room and she's still dressed in her arena unitard. her adrenaline high has faded and Cashmere's a little more willing to make nice with anyone who stops by, but it would be in everyone's best interest if those stopping by knocked first. ]

[gloriouscurse]

[At his voice, and worse, at visual confirmation, Regina isn't sure she isn't dead, and any anger she had or tirade she was about to go on disappears completely. Her mouth is slightly agape, and admittedly, it's impressive that she's speechless for a moment. The last thing she'd done in regards to Neal, was toss dirt on his grave, and it hurt - not because they were particularly close, but because Henry's lost his father before he even had the chance to know him.]

You're...this is...

[She pauses, straightening her back.]

Where are we? What is this?

[She wants him to have the answer, she really does.]

[carjacked]

[ Despite the situation, it's kinda hard not to be at least a little amused that he managed to render her speechless. Not an easy feat to accomplish considering the stories he's heard about her, so, you know, he'll take it. That amusement drains out pretty quickly, though, because they're still both trapped and kidnapped, and he's got no idea what this means for his son right now.

His head shakes slowly when she straightens, hands reemerging from his pockets so he can hold his palms up and just shrug. ]

I- honestly, I got no idea. I just woke up here a couple minutes ago, and-

[ He glances behind him, absently points a thumb toward the desk back there. ]

Nobody's pickin' up out front, there's no... books, no phones, no- anything. Frankly, I don't even know how this is... possible.

[kirking]

[Cute blonde trying to break into his room? That's not what he was expecting when he goes to investigate what sounds like someone fiddling with the lock to his room. Supposedly his room. The keycard had his name on it and the suitcase had his things but this is not the Enterprise.

Clearly.

Any thought of hitting on her goes out of his head when he takes more than two seconds to look at her, sees that she's crying or has been recently and there's blood on her shirt and shit. What the hell is going on here?]

You alright?

later / lobby

[64th]

[ Cashmere is pissed. spending 30 unsuccessful minutes trying to break a window and get the hell out of their creepy prison didn't do much to improve her mood. she's come around to the idea that this is not an arena, but it doesn't matter where they are. she's decided to actively dislike it. her room has been properly dismantled and put back together, which leaves the rest of the hotel to explore. she's changed into normal clothes in hopes of feeling a little more settled but so far, it's not working.

Derek's scowl is less off-putting than it probably should be. at least he's not full of shit and smiling as though everything is perfect. uninvited, she takes a seat in one of the armchairs and nods in greeting to Derek. ] How's your room? [ the sarcasm is evident in her voice.] Do you have a nice view?

lobby

[64th]

The kind we're going to die in. [ isn't Cashmere helpful? she joins him at the desk, though she leans against it instead of sitting on it. who cares if he's a kid? or looks like a kid. for the record, she thinks he's a kid who is probably going to die in this weird Capitol constructed hotel. she doesn't know how or when, but her days were already numbered at home. she refuses to get her hopes up about this place. ]

Anything cool over there? [ doubtful. not much cool in her room either. ]

[1_truth]

[ Magic. (Scratch Practical. Add in Delusional.) He does his best not to let his personal opinion of magic show on his face. Maybe later he'll tell her how insulted he is but for now it's best not to make enemies-especially with someone that could potentially have a hairpin. The Sparks throw him off though as he was honestly not expecting them. His first thought is that maybe she's a magician and the small display was meant to impress but if that were so then sure she'd go with something more impressive than what would amount to be purple glitter. ] [ Unless the theory he's dreaming proves to be true but if that were the case then he should recognise her face from somewhere. The Brain cannot create a face it can only project what it's seen before-perhaps it was someone seen in a crowd but with how careful he has to be now it's extremely unlikely. ] Do you have a hairpin? I saw a movie where they picked a lock that way once! I bet it would work here too.

[pajarita]

[she doesn't have time to be subtle, just take it and roll with it. whatever it is. this time, she doesn't pay attention to him, but walks over to the projector, leaning over it to study it. it casts her shadow across the projection screen, and nosferatu plays on her shirt, but whatever.]

It's just one roll... [she keeps this in mind, it's the first apparatus she's found of any sort, and she might need to destroy and dismantle it at one point.

for now, the end credits roll across her shirt and she steps aside to let it play out on the screen. there's the trepidation: if the movie ends, who'll come to replace it? but the movie ends-

and then it begins.] That makes no sense, these things don't do loops.

screening room also

[pajarita]

[she's probably not setting her priorities in order, but after the first discovery of the film looping, she stuck around to see if it would do it again. not that she knows how long 'no sferatu' lasts, but she feels like this is some clue. some hint. some karmic shout out to her like 'hey raven, this screening room is useless, dismantle everything'.

besides which, it's a quiet place to focus, without everyone ambling about and asking for other people. it's a quiet place, and she needs a quiet place to calm down. to tell herself that she'll get out of here. that clarke and bellamy have got things under wraps at the dropship, that finn will be fine without her there to try and bargain murphy over in his stead. it's a quiet place, so it does wonder for confronting how much of a hideous human being she is.

she expects people to come in, but she doesn't expect to be floored by the sight of one young woman coming in. except -- she's beautiful, and her dress is like something out of a fairy tale they used to read in the nursery when her mom still had money to take her to the nursery, and she's -- ] Princess?

[that's embarrassing. she shakes her head, clears her mind a little -- it's not clarke, but clarke's not the only princess is she? -- and then frowns. who doesn't expect movies in this day and age? she grew up in space with nothing, and they still had movie night on mecha station.]

Fair warning, it's a pretty creepy movie.

[totheright]

((Three things happen in quick succession. First, Kaoru lets out an incredibly unattractive yelp, a sound that he would later claim never came out of his mouth. Second, he registers that a boy a little older than him has crashed into him, which was the cause of said yelp-that-never-happened. And third?

He was dressed horribly.

Kaoru barely manages to stop himself from blurting out, "what are you wearing?!" Instead, he takes a breath and raises an eyebrow at the guy.)) Can't you watch where you're going?

front desk

[sheriffing]

[That was one hell of a rude awakening. Emma's been wandering the halls ever since she landed in her room, overdressed for this place and rightfully pissed off about it. These things just happen to her and her family, whether she's trying to protect Regina from a wraith or excusing herself after a first date. It proves what she said before; that's there's always something to keep her from being able to enjoy herself. She's the savior all day every day, and in the moments when she tries to be anything else, she always ends up paying for it.

So here she is, in the middle of nowhere, looking for a door out or something she can break through. She's also keeping her eyes open, expecting that if this happened to her, it had to happen to some of the others, too. It's never just one of them, although if whoever is behind this was looking for the savior, maybe it's just her. Maybe this is some kind of trap, because Emma doesn't know what to think of it. She's been in some crappy hotels in her time, but they never made her feel as on-edge as this hellhole.

She's already tense when she rounds the corner, heels muffled against worn carpet as she heads for the front desk. Being close enough to hear him doesn't exactly help in making her acknowledge his presence, because she's heard Neal's voice plenty of times since he died. It's never real, so it doesn't matter. It's just a reminder, Emma thinks, that he's not as far as he feels most of the time. The world's different now that he's no longer in it; now that him being out there somewhere involves a broader definition of the word than like places Tallahassee, or Canada. She's had enough time to understand that she'll never stop missing him, and that hearing his voice is just a part of having to live without him.

Which means he's not there, no matter how much she wants him to be.

And when the desk does come into view, and she stops dead in her tracks to stare at the man leaning against it, the first thing Emma has to tell herself is that it isn't real. ...It just feels like it is, and that's a feeling she can't seem to shake this time.]


Neal?

lobby

[1_truth]

[ 'That's kind of dramatic.' He thinks to himself, looking the woman over carefully and reading her appearance as best he could. (blonde, extremely fit, too comfortable with idea of death, wealth? guarded) She certainly didn't seem very nurturing with a comment like that. How best to respond though? Acting like a kid won't get him too far with this one, he can already tell. ]

It's a little soon to give up just yet, isn't it?

[ Even if the lobby seemed to be lacking a hotel entrance. ] I mean, it doesn't look good but giving up only means you'll lose for sure.

[carjacked]

[ The thing is, even if this was heaven, he's pretty much come to terms with the fact that there were some people he just wouldn't get to see. Heaven's for the dead, right? And no matter how bad he might've missed her, he's not selfish enough to wish her here.

Not that he's had a whole lot of time to process this whole thing- just those few minutes he'd been dying, just the hour or so he's had upon waking up here, but some things you just feel right off the bat. He felt dead, he felt resigned, and he felt like he'd let go of her for the very last time.

And then her voice tears through him, cuts through the room and erases any thought of bellhops or secretaries, and all he can do is look up with parting lips. ]

...Emma?

[ He breathes, disbelief on his face and in his hushed voice. It only lasts a second, and then he's striding away from the desk with purpose, headed toward her as quickly as he can to throw his arms around her. ]

[oceanborne]

[ Is she all right? The question startles a laugh out of Annie, though it's not by any means a happy sound. She drags her gaze up from the rope in her hands to look at the boy speaking to her, bewildered and not even trying to hide her suspicion. Why is he being so kind? What's his motive?

(It's an arena, of course it is. Everybody has ulterior motives in the arena.) ]

Fine. I'm fine. [ But it's a little late to be feigning strength, if someone's already seen her without the mask of a Career-trained victor. She shrugs one shoulder, looking past him to the assorted others milling around the lobby. ]

As fine as anybody else in here is, anyway.

later

[oceanborne]

...Cashmere?

[ Annie had only meant to peer into the doorway from as far across the hall as she could, at first. Just to make sure there's no danger there, so that she can pass by and continue on to the room labeled on her keycard. But one peek gets her a glimpse at that painfully familiar uniform, and there was only one female tribute in the Quell with hair that color.

Strange, though. Annie's fairly certain that the last time she saw Cashmere was when Johanna's axe took her life, and yet she's here. Here and alive and the first familiar face Annie has managed to find, which all but ensures that she's Annie's new favorite person. Annie creeps closer, pausing in the doorway to look from Cashmere to the wreck of her room and back up again. ]

Find anything interesting yet?

captain hook — ota

[villainously]

ARRIVAL.
[ he was supposed to wake the same place he fell asleep... waiting on the uncomfortable wooden bench of a picnic table near the docks. only when he opens his eyes he can already tell that something is wrong, because it's still dark and there's no sound of the ocean, and certainly no smell of it. no, he's inside somehow, and he has no clue how he got there. he doubts the crocodile has strung up another trick, so what on earth brought him here? the snow queen running around town probably has no business capturing pirates in cellars, and yet here he is.

his chest and lungs hurt a bit from the impact of landing, like he was dropped into the room like a toy thrown in a chest carelessly. he pushes himself up and tries to make sense of where he is. it seems modern (to him, but that doesn't say a lot) but it doesn't seem familiar. the darkness is oppressive in the little room he's awoken in but he can see light just under the door in front of him. he should have been more comfortable in the darkness, all villains should be, and yet he tried the handle to escape it anyway. not a terribly smart cage, considering the door is unlocked. the hallway is unremarkable, yet enticing compared to the dark and dank.

he walks straight into the suitcase in front of him, and eyes it warily. just because it wears his name doesn't make it trustworthy, yet he's not willing to muck around with it now. he reaches down to hook the handle and his hand thumps against the side instead. relearning how to function with two hands is harder than he imagined, but at least with the dangerous one occupied hopefully he'll manage to find his way out of whatever place he's found himself in.

only when he makes it down the stairs to see that he is far from the only one trapped, it might not be so easy to find an escape. people are shouting at the empty desk, milling through rooms, everyone seems aimless... and Hook, well, he has no idea where to start, but it's always wise to watch the group. maybe someone around knows more than he does. ]

LATER.
[ he can't quite decide if this is a waking nightmare or some kind of curse. it doesn't make sense, any of it; and he's a man from a magical world, who has seen all manner of curses and spells in his very long centuries. there's got to be a way out, there simply has to be. even Neverland had an escape route, it was just incredibly hard to find. or handed out by the little devil running the show, and so far? no little devils to speak of. if there's somebody responsible for this mess in their midst, they are intentionally keeping themselves from being known.

in all too many ways, it just doesn't seem real. death is the one thing magic cannot reverse, isn't it? surely Zelena had broken the rules of magic but it isn't — can't be — possible.

he doesn't know what to make of this place yet, but ironically he's more dangerous with two hands than he ever was with a hook. at the moment he's in his room, intent on keeping his distance from the rest. it's for the best. there's not likely answers in his room or in his suitcase. he'll be searching for them anyway.

and, well, his door isn't locked... chances are good someone might open it, either on accident or on purpose. ]

lobby

[villainously]

[ he's unsettled by this place and doing his best to watch and learn from the rest of the crowd. some are in various shades of panic and disorientation, but hopefully at least someone has a clue. he has no interest in chatting up strangers about how very odd all this is. the only thing that strikes him is how none of the faces look familiar. he was starting to think he'd seen every face there was to see in Storybrooke and now suddenly he doesn't recognize a single one.

granted he's not friendly with most of the town, but still, he's fairly certain he would at least recognize a few of them...

he's keeping to himself and watching when suddenly somebody grabs at him and unsurprisingly steals his attention. a bit bold to grab Captain Hook and make demands, isn't it? ]

Do I look like a Gloss to you, sweetheart? [ who would be so cruel as to name their child Gloss? he is strong enough to break her grip but he doesn't, just stares back at her wild-eyed expression looking vaguely annoyed. his left hand crawls a bit with all the ways he could make her let go, yet the desire is easily ignored. ] I don't bloody know, so if you'd kindly release me.

[pontificus]

[When he speaks, she seems almost surprised. Of course there are others in here, but she is not expecting an answer back. Turning from the screen to the boy who spoke, Lucrezia smiles pleasantly. They have not been properly introduced, but he seems to know more on the subject than she does, and she gladly would hear more on it.]

But is not taken with paints or charcoal. How does it resemble life so well? [She has seen art, some of the greatest in all of the world sitting in the halls of the Vatican, in her own home. She is living in the Renaissance, a time of great beauty and art. But this is unlike what she has ever seen.]

How marvelous it truly is.

[pontificus]

[She is nearly taken aback at being addressed so, to be flattered that highly. Of course the power her family wields is quite greater than a princess. Her father makes and breaks kings with just the words of his mouth. To cross him could mean losing everything if he excommunicates someone, stripping them of their blessing and giving means for another to step in their place.

But her station is that of Lady, with the wedding to her husband the Lord of Pasaro. She smiles kindly at the other girl, not the first she's seen in such garb. It seems it is Lucrezia who sticks out more in her dress.]

It is just lady. Lady Lucrezia, [She offers a name with a regal curtsy. She turns her attention back to the film though, more impressed with the skill than the subject matter.]

We do not have-- movies back home. Only art hung upon walls. [She speaks as her eyes dance over the screen again, taken by the level of technology she's witnessing. It might be dated for Raven, but it is near magic for her.]

lobby

[pontificus]

[She, too, is looking for more, but with the advancements she's unaccustomed to, Lucrezia dawdles more than others. Everything is new, from the writing utensils no longer dipped in ink to the flickering lights above them. She is unsure what she is looking for, but each few steps seems to have her taken with something else. She is adapting, or at least trying to, but it all seems so strange.

She takes her suitcase, feeling strange to have something packed for her, and it is not the ornate chests she is used to.]

Have you found yours? [Perhaps she shouldn't care, but everyone seems almost as lost and vacant as she does. No one is familiar to her, and while his look should frighten her, he seems more a poor boy than someone deranged. Rome is filled enough with the dregs, the bishops and cardinals squandering and laundering money for themselves. But that does not mean she is so ungracious.]

main!!

[arms]

[ After waking up feeling like absolute klunk, Minho is less than thrilled about wherever he's woken up. Everything is... It's like the base WICKED brought them to, has a similar feel to the dorms but with more freedom. There aren't any guards, and the doors seem locked simply by virtue of privacy rather than containment.

Rubbing tenderly at the fresh burn scar around his neck, he tries not to touch his face. Like he didn't have enough problems after getting set on fire and struck by lightning, but whatever, he ignores the blood on his sterile white clothes and does what he does best - explore.

Which leads to him catching sight of a familiar face, from the top of the stairs. Relief washes over him, because he hasn't seen Thomas in weeks. Gotta wonder why he's still in those clothes, but later. ]

Hey, greenie! You look like a shucking crank that rolled in slop. Quit spooking people. [ This does not stop him from jogging over towards him, though, heading right down the stairs. He does it stiffly, though, the beating Lincoln gave him taking its toll. ]

[greenies]

[ thomas tenses the minute someone approaches him--he's on the highest of high alerts at the moment, just waiting for a WICKED scientist (or worse, a griever or a crank) to come out from around the corner and attack him. though he's holding his shoulder and sort of focusing off in the distance, he literally ignores the guy who comes to him until he's right there.

thomas stares at him like, of course, he's absolutely nuts. ] What?

[ what the hell is a stiles? ]

knife buddies! 8D

[greenies]

[ thomas pretty much matches the girls wide eyed rabid stare for a second, looking her up and down and catching eyes with the blade. group b, he thinks, but she looks too old for that, like--like brenda, more than anything else. crank? WICKED scientist? he's had so many people threaten his life that he remembers nowadays that they're all starting to blur together like they were swiped too.

but, right. potential murder, strange kidnappers. same old song and dance. at least thomas isn't duct taped to a chair by a psycho zombie this time. (or literally being thrown into a sack.)

thomas stares her down, trying to catch up mentally with the questions before he asks, sounding curious and also still probably a little crazy. only one of those questions actually settles with him. ] --What the hell are Mountain Men?

[greenies]

[ well, this guy definitely doesn't seem threatening at all. thomas almost feels bad for pulling a knife on him. taking a minute to make his snap judgement, thomas steps back a little and tucks his knife back into his harness.

sorry peter. he's a little jumpy. ]

My name's Thomas. [ just in case-- ] The Real Leader. [ because that made people back off him before, who knows. thomas can't even trust the wobbly sad looking ones. ] Who are you?

[greenies]

[ thomas glances up as a girl comes to talk to him, and he's momentarily startled by her appearance. she looks like something out of a painting--thomas doesn't even remember paintings, and he knows that much. she's very pretty, too, and his cheeks flush a little before he cocks his head downwards. his suitcase is over by his feet, and though thomas had taken a second to poke through it, he'd stopped after a few minutes, because there was something in there that shouldn't be in there.

he holds the bloodied doll in his hands, and curls his palms around it as she addresses him, looking up and looking far more vulnerable than he intends to. ] Yeah. Figures they'd at least set me up with supplies, this time.