Week 5

[grimgrinningghosts]

[Five deaths in one week, and almost half of the guests have died now. The Narrator is now claiming that the man who's trying to save all the guests is a cold-hearted killer, and he doesn't seem to be lying about this. But on the other hand, that doesn't explain why he continues to do any of this, or if he's even an entirely good guy here.

Whether you like it or not, tension is becoming unusually high in this hotel now.

But hey, at least you get a nice new floor to tide you over.

13 guests remain]

[SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY]

{ooc: Don't forget to fill in this week's Activity Check! The deadline is 11/01 @ 1 PM EST!}

Comments

kitchen

[greatwidesomewhere]

[Belle comes in looking red-eyed and sleepless on Sunday morning, intending to break her fast with something simple—some leftover bread from after the trial, perhaps, and some cheese. But she's happy to see Tadashi in the kitchen, even if she notices he's staying far away from the cutlery this week.]

I'm glad to see that the worry over your hand turned out to be for nothing.

[tadaishi]

[There are eggs, bacon, and toast! And tea, if she wants.]

Hah...you and me both. I thought everyone was going to try to pin the blame on me just because of that.

[It certainly didn't help that Thalia was the one who would've been best able to clear him.]

Sleep okay?

[greatwidesomewhere]

That would have been awful. Truly.

[She starts to help herself to some food—not a whole lot. Just enough to get something in her stomach. And tea, of course. She waggles a hand.]

I've slept better. I've begun to have the most horrible nightmares...

[Unsurprisingly.]

[tadaishi]

Oh...that's not good. Not unexpected but still not good...you want to talk about any of them? It might help.

[It might make her feel slightly better?]

[greatwidesomewhere]

[Belle pauses for a moment, and then nods, leaning back against the counter and looking down at her plate.]

It's hard to explain, but...it's a rose. A rose, encased in glass. And the petals have all fallen, except for one. And all I see is that last petal, hanging from its very last thread...threatening to fall.

[She gives a humorless laugh.]

I know it doesn't sound very frightening. But...given the context, it's incredibly painful.

[tadaishi]

I'm not judging. Everyone's nightmares are different.

[But that description...]

A...a red rose? Encased in a glass bell?

[greatwidesomewhere]

[She gives him a questioning look.]

Yes, that's right...how did you know?

[tadaishi]

I got it out of the penny press a while back...somehow. Do you...want it?

[Probably not, if it's a source of trauma.]

[greatwidesomewhere]

[Suddenly, Belle's throat feels tight, and her face is warm.]

R...really? Has the last petal not fallen from it?

[tadaishi]

It still has one petal, yeah. It came out of the machine like that and has stayed the same for over a week.

[greatwidesomewhere]

Oh, Tadashi...

[She sets down her plate and reaches forward to take both his hands between hers, clasping them tightly.]

Thank you. I...I'd take it, if it's not too much trouble. Strangely, I think it might bring me some comfort.

[tadaishi]

[He winces a little when she clasps his hands--sorry Belle--and then isn't sure whether to look apologetic or embarrassed.]

It's not a problem. I'm glad I could find it's owner...I wish I could have seen it in full bloom, too.

[greatwidesomewhere]

[She takes her hands back, realizing she might be hurting him—]

I'm sorry, I nearly forgot!

[Her smile is sad, but it's a smile.]

So do I. Unfortunately, I've only ever seen it with all the petals almost gone.

[tadaishi]

You're fine, you didn't do it on purpose.

[It's his own fault for trying to catch a paring knife with a bare hand.]

That's disappointing. Uh...did you want me to go get it now, or do you want to deal with it later?

[greatwidesomewhere]

[She gives him a pleading look.]

May I have it now? I can do this while you go...

[Gesturing at the food still cooking.]

[tadaishi]

Of course. I'll be right back.

[He leaves the kitchen to her for the few minutes that he's gone, and returns carefully carrying the glass bell, the one petal still clinging stubbornly to the flower inside despite all the moving around it's done. It's getting set on a counter.]

Here you go.

[greatwidesomewhere]

[She waits patiently, stirring eggs and putting more toast in the toaster slots, and when Tadashi comes back she forces herself to keep her back turned for a long moment, steeling herself so she doesn't burst into tears at the sight of the thing. When she does turn, it's slowly, and she lets her breath rush out of her at an even pace.]

Thank you. Thank you so much. It's just as I remembered it...it's so hard to believe it's real.

[tadaishi]

[He'd much prefer if she didn't burst into tears, as he's better at comforting crying children than crying adults. Or older teenagers, whichever.]

No problem. If you don't mind me asking...do you know why that one petal hangs on?

[greatwidesomewhere]

[She places a cautious hand on the glass bell, as if assuring herself that it's real.]

It's...something of an hourglass. A measure of time, connected to a curse. When the last petal falls...the time is up, and the curse becomes permanent.

[tadaishi]

Oh, gotcha. It looks like the countdown for the curse is paused, if that last petal won't fall. Or else they fall very slowly...?

[He's probably looking at this magic rose too scientifically, but he can't help it.]

[greatwidesomewhere]

They fall slowly, but...

[She shakes her head.]

It already fell. Right before I woke up here. I don't understand how it could have been undone.