hotel: hope

[shaft]

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week 0, tuesday, ? room 1

[shaft]

[ 1. You open a door and step into a room that looks normal and fits the hotel's general aesthetic. Slowly, your vision begins to fade, until you are plunged into absolute darkness. Slowly, your hearing starts to go, until you are surrounded by absolute silence. It's quiet. So quiet. It's dark. So dark. How much time has passed? You can't tell. You can't see anything. You can't hear anything. You can't feel anything. Then, suddenly, you find yourself back in the hall, disoriented. You can see, hear, and feel again. Only four minutes have passed.

Claude looks around them, confused. ]

... I don't think I trust this.

[highestheim]

[ well, this is happening. hope's expression mirrors claude's for a moment before a more cautious one replaces it. ]

...Yeah. Keep your eyes open for anything that looks even the smallest bit off. [ he takes a couple of steps further into the room, then casts a glance over his shoulder. ] I probably don't need to tell you to stay on your guard.

[shaft]

[ He nods, surveying the area, gaze lingering over the shadows. ]

This doesn't seem to be the one with the boardgame. I wonder if it'll be monsters or psychological torture.

[highestheim]

[ raises an eyebrow at "the board game"... ]

You've already explored one of these rooms?

[shaft]

Can you blame me for being nosy?

[ well, probably ]

I just mean, we might not be in for something deadly. But... who knows.

[highestheim]

Who knows, indeed.

[ he starts to walk towards a wall to try and inspect it, but it's then that his vision begins to dim. he stumbles a little, lightly bumping into claude as he takes a step back. ]

Ah—sorry, I just... got a little dizzy for a second. I think I'll be okay, though.

[shaft]

[ He blinks, surprised when Hope bumps into him. ]

What? That doesn't sound good.

[ He tries to put a hand on Hope's shoulder, but his vision... blurs? And he hits him in the face instead. ]

[highestheim]

[ RUDE? it's true that hope is tougher than he was when he was a kid, but damb, a punch is a punch. he recoils and holds a hand up to his cheek, now red, with a look of bewilderment on his face. ]

Have you lost control of your body?

[shaft]

No. I was just...

[ He rubs his eyes, trying to clear his vision. ]

Sorry. Didn't knock any teeth out, did I?

[highestheim]

Nothing that would be lasting damage, though we may need to account for this on Saturday.

[ a beat passes as he frowns, hard. ]

Ugh, I'm already assuming the worst is going to happen...

week 0, thursday

[shaft]

[ late in the evening: ]

Hope, would you like to have dinner?

[highestheim]

Is this a sincere offer?

[ or a shitpost?? ]

[shaft]

Do I really seem that rude?

[highestheim]

There have been occasions.

[ no further comment ]

[shaft]

Okay, I can't argue that.

In any case, I'm asking because according to Dimitri, there's a chance we won't be corralled back to our rooms tonight. Instead we'll get trapped in another location.

I'm curious to test it.

[shaft]

Don't worry, I'll step up.

And I'd say the worst conclusion is the most likely one. We're already being treated to bullshit.

[highestheim]

Interesting. For all the similarities these games may have, I shouldn't be surprised they aren't completely uniform.

Where were you thinking?

[highestheim]

Yeah, you don't have to—

[ he's cut off before he can say anything else, because for hope, it all goes at once. his sight and his hearing go out, and he is surrounded by a void. if claude retains his senses, he'll watch hope flail around in desperation, trying in vain to find anything to ground him in this all-encompassing nothingness. he can't hear himself yell, can't hear his voice start to break. ]

Claude? Claude! I don't—Light? [ yea surprise i'm playing misa who gained shapeshifting powers in a psl i did with her i'm sorry you had to learn this way! jk im just fuckin with you, it's very clear hope is not referring to mr yagami; there's genuine, deep-seated panic in his voice as he tries to reach out, to fight his way out of the darkness. ] Please, don't do anything to her. Lightning, I'm sorry—

[shaft]

The restaurant. Might as well have a good meal if things are going to go south.

[shaft]

[ Well, that's a little alarming.

He takes a step back at first before reaching forward, taking hold of Hope's hands. ]

Hope? Hope, you've got to snap out of it—

[ Oh, except he's blind now too. ]

[highestheim]

I have no objections with that.

Should I be expecting anyone else to join us?

[shaft]

Wouldn't make it much oh a date then, would it? :)

But feel free to bring others along.

[highestheim]

[ he's going to ignore the first line. ]

I personally don't have anyone in mind...

[ there's a pause before the text on his end continues: ]

Lup, Harrowhark, and Mollymauk will be staying together. I've informed them of our plans, as well.

[shaft]

That's going to be quite the party.

[highestheim]

I haven't had the chance to speak with Mollymauk yet.

Like Dimitri, he isn't the same one we know, right?