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

[greatwidesomewhere]

[Belle glances up, and is about to open her mouth to accept Sally's offer when her gaze lands on that tea set. The words die in her throat, and a gasp comes out instead, barely covered by her fingers.]

Chip...Mrs. Potts?

...Did those come from the machine?

[darnsitall]

They did! I haven't had a chance to try them out yet- oh! They must be yours, right?

[greatwidesomewhere]

[Slowly, Belle's fingers lower, and reach over to pick up the little teacup with the chip in its rim. His face is...blank. Her heart plummets. He's just a teacup.]

They're friends of mine. Or...were. Their time ran out.

[She sounds resigned. Tired.]

[darnsitall]

Their time ran out? Is that like dying? But they're right here!

[greatwidesomewhere]

[With a sad, wistful sigh, Belle cups the teacup between her two hands, turning it over gently between them.]

Sort of. They were human, once. A mother and her son. They were cursed by an enchantress, only to turn human again if their master found true love.

[She's trying so hard to keep it in, but she can't help the single tear that escapes her eyes.]

Except he died, before he could.

[darnsitall]

[A horrified gasp escapes Sally.]

O-oh no, I put tea in her!

[What does she do now? Dump it out? While she's fretting, she looks over and sees how upset Belle is getting.]

He died? Well, that's a shame... but he might not be gone forever. Just look at the Narrator.

[She's helping??]

[greatwidesomewhere]

I-it's alright. She was always happiest when she was making tea.

[She wipes hastily at her eyes.]

N-no, I don't think that's possible. I watched him, he...he died in my arms. And time had run out.

[darnsitall]

[Sally wants to argue, that the Narrator was living(?) proof that the dead weren't just gone, forever, but she feels like that's just not appropriate here.]

You really care about him, don't you?

[greatwidesomewhere]

[Belle nods, her hands falling to her lap, still cradling Chip.]

I loved him. I...I still do.

[darnsitall]

[Sally is fairly certain that if she had a heart, it would be breaking. that's how it works, right? It occurs to her that she has no idea how to deal with this sort of grief. There's no dying or running out of time where she comes from.]

...These must be really upsetting you. I can- I can put them away...

[greatwidesomewhere]

I-it's alright.

[Sniffling furiously, Belle lifts her chin.]

Really. Can...can we have tea? I think it might make me feel a little better, strange as it seems.

[darnsitall]

Of course! If you think it'll help. We can talk about something else, too, if you want.

[greatwidesomewhere]

I'd appreciate that very much.

[She goes ahead and pours herself a cup of tea, with cream and sugar, finding a little bit of calm in the familiar routine.]

Could you tell me more about Halloweentown? Are there towns for other holidays?

[darnsitall]

[Sally tries not to look too relieved about changing the subject. No offense, Belle, but she can't even with this grieving stuff.]are other towns in charge of other holidays, but I haven't visited them yet. Everything Jack's told me about Christmas Town makes it sound wonderful.

[greatwidesomewhere]

Goodness. I can't imagine how festive that must be...festive and cold.

[She knows what a place can be like if it's cold and snowy all the time.]

Have you never celebrated Christmas?

[darnsitall]

[Have you never celebrated Christmas? hahaha well that's an awkward subject.]

Well... until recently, we had only ever celebrated Halloween. The first time we celebrated Christmas wasn't until... last year, I think!

[greatwidesomewhere]

Oh. Goodness. The whole year, and you only celebrated one day?

[Wouldn't that be a little...monotonous?]

I'm very glad you at least got to try something new, then.

[darnsitall]

Well, when you're in charge of making Halloween as scary as possible for everyone around the world, it takes a lot of time and energy! We put a lot of pride in our work!

I'd love to celebrate Christmas again, though. Although... maybe not as over the top as we did it the first time.

[greatwidesomewhere]

Over the top? How do you mean?

[Belle sips at her tea, mindful of, well...the chip.]

[darnsitall]

Ah... well... when Jack first traveled to Christmas Town, he was so inspired that he wanted to try it out for himself. Not just in Halloween Town, either. He wanted to be in charge of Christmas everywhere.

[There's a hesitance in her voice that hints that maybe it didn't go so well.]

[greatwidesomewhere]

I see.

[Oh, dear.]

I can imagine that might have been quite the endeavor.