It's all happened before...

[grimgrinningghosts]

[You wake up in a plush bed, well rested but very confused. As you become more conscious, one thing becomes abundantly clear: this is not your room, nor does this look like any bedroom you’ve ever been in before. It’s relatively clean room, but immediately something feels… off about all of this.

When you start exploring, a thing you’ll soon notice is that on the bedside table, there is a room key sitting ontop of a neatly typed note.]

Dear hotel guests,

We cordially invite you to come to the downstairs library at noon for an important meeting regarding your stay in the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Before then, we invite you to make full use of the amenities this hotel has provided for you.

On behalf of the hotel staff, we dearly hope you enjoy your stay in this marvelous hotel.

-HTH Management

[But, as you leave the comfort of your new bedroom, any hope that you somehow booked a hotel room the previous night and just forgot is immediately dashed. It looks like this hotel hasn’t been cleaned in decades, and despite the mention of hotel staff in your note, there doesn’t appear to be anyone working here.

Not to say that you’re alone, however. As you explore the hotel, you’ll soon find that there are 23 others in the exact same situation as you: confused and with no memory of how they got here. And to make matters worse, if the bios you stumble upon in the dining area is anything to go by, this clearly isn't just a freak accident.

Get comfy, because you are all in for a wild ride.]

Comments

[stenchus_rodentus]

[Well. Right off the bat Ratigan feels like he woke up from a drinking binge. His room is lavish enough and if he woke up in anything less he'd instantly complain. Sure most everything is huge but when you live in Mousdom you're used to getting around. By which he means brute forcing his way up to the knob in a Victorian equivalent of parkour.

But that note by his bedside clearly means this isn't a cozy invitation. One thing they managed to get his hands on him, which was a mistake.

His entrance to the lobby is extremely posh with the walk of a rat expecting both cheers and a knife in the back.]

If all this effort is expended to "invite" me, surely they could find a moment to redecorate.

[anasty]

It may very well be that the recent choice of guests is the first tasteful decision our 'host' has ever made. Then again, everyone gets lucky eventually.

[ Ursula responds without looking up from where she's trying to rifle through the lobby desk drawers. Who let her back there? ]

[stenchus_rodentus]

One must have an iota of taste to select a mouse of my magnitude.

[It's about him so he's tickled in his ego to almost miss the octopus-taur rifling through the drawers.

Er um...well.

Ever Ratigan feels at a loss for words.]

...Very busy I see.

[Bends down to hide his bugged out eyes.]

[anasty]

[ See, the trick to complimenting others is to actually just compliment yourself in such a way they can ride your wake. ]

It feels more like toiling in futility. Useless!

[ She tries to pick up one of the geometric lamps only to find that it's bolted down. Snarling, outraged to be foiled at even this tiny turn, she beats at the less sturdy shade instead, shattering the sensitive light bulb if not crumbling the shade. ]

No records, no keys! What sort of inn is this?

[ Her eyes search her company out now, expecting to see a pipsqueak and finding, well... magnitude indeed. ]

But I haven't checked everything yet. Can you help, my dear?

[ Of course, Ratigan should know a veiled ultimatum when he hears one. ]

[stenchus_rodentus]

[Already Ratigan can tell from the very well composed and delicate manner this Charybis carries herself that getting in the way of her tentacles or even hands right now wouldn't end too well.

He merely stretches his neckerchief to mask the violent tension that a giant volatile set of tentacles can create.]

Not a well-catered-to inn if the state of disrepair is to say anything.

[And clearly right now Ratigan knows he has no real advantage at the moment. This information might be useful to him. He's merely just...servicing himself while incidentally helping another.]

Why certainly...I suppose I can use my proportions as a means to sniff out information, madame.

[anasty]

[ Smart rodent. It's only been an hour, if that, since Ursula woke up and it's already been A Day full of ignorant disrespect. His manners soothe her and she offers him a little smile in turn.

She leans towards him, propping herself up on the desk with one lavender elbow and half-turning towards the pigeonholes behind her. She indicates them with her finger. ]

That top row is the only place I haven't been able to look just yet. If you're not afraid of heights, I'd be grateful to have you as my second pair of eyes, Mister...?

[stenchus_rodentus]

Heights? Rarely a thing to fear in the sprawling streets of Mousedom!

[Manners keeps you alive where brute force fails. And if it weren't for her habit of issuing iltimatums hed say she was pf the decent sort.

He doesnt need much help climbing. He stuffs his gloves in his coat, claws put as he makes his ascent. It's a good balance of Victorian gymnastics and clawing rat style upwards into the pigeonholes.]

Now that I had my excercise for today...let us pry into this long hidden hole~

[anasty]

I would have given you a boost.

[ She says, after having watched him scale the thing with admirable agility. As useful as someone looking up from their magazine to see the house is already clean. ]

I've never heard of such a place. Where is Mousedom? An Anglican clime, if my ear serves me better than my vantage.

[ A little chuckle. ]

[stenchus_rodentus]

I prefer to display my many talents.

[That and he doesn't quite trust those tentacles. They look as though they could crush him with ease if they wanted.]

Why you have the natural art of the ear, madame! Indeed Mousedom is somewhere on the British Isles~

[Said as he scrounges through the small hole. Hmmm nothing yet.]

[anasty]

[ They could. However, he's fostered the best attitude from her today; if she were going to kill someone, he wouldn't be at the top of her list. But then again, the day isn't over yet.

She watches him about it, unable to see into the darkened slots but assuming anything he finds might come with some tell-tale twitch of that wormy appendage that dangles out of it. ]

I've met a few other rodents in my short span here, and neither of them with half the manners as you. You are a refreshing credit to your kind, sir.

[stenchus_rodentus]

I would say that to ever mouse and rat I met who wasn't an awful bore.



Might I dare say I haven't met as many...fascinating denizens of the sea with your powers of persuasion.

lobby

[hallotween]

[casually walking through the lobby, see a rat, nothing too interesting, in a place that looks like this you're bound to see a few, and it's not like she's scared or anythi--

... wait. rats don't usually wear clothes. especially such nice clothes. what is this, some kind of cartoon?]

... Hello? [should she kneel to talk to it? is that condescending?]

[stenchus_rodentus]

[It's a kid so he assumes a mere lack of tact on her part. Telling by the ahead of his time clothing she must be a street urchin of some sort, an orphan. Lot of assuming on Ratigan's part.]

Yes hello. Let's clear all formalities and assume you are as lost as well.

[Kidnapping a kid, this guy's sinister trickery was about as evil as his.]

[hallotween]

Lost, kidnapped by a mysterious force for unknown reasons-- you know, no difference.

[she cocks her head to the side] They're probably expecting a big payout from someone like you.

[stenchus_rodentus]

Aren't you astute.

[This kid catches on quick given...everyone else. But hey someone complimenting him is a quick way to get on his good side.]

I do have a storied career if I do say so myself~

[hallotween]

As... what?

[WHAT JOBS... DO RATS HAVE...]

[stenchus_rodentus]

Ass a professor and entrepreneur!

[hallotween]

... Is there a college for rats?

[stenchus_rodentus]

...I'll let you correct your mistake since youre so...obviously young.

I am not. A rat.

[hallotween]

... You're joking, right?

[stenchus_rodentus]

[Does this look like a joking face???]

[darnsitall]

Eeeek~! A mouse!

[Ratigan has probably heard that before, but not nearly as... cheerful sounding? Either way someone is reaching down to scoop him up.]

[stenchus_rodentus]

[THANK YOU. Ratigan looks pleased, even if the complimenter is a bit ragged with a condition of sorts.]

Quite an eye, madam. Indeed I am unique among mice.

[darnsitall]

[She cups him in both hands, gently, like a cat.]

You're so big! And with impeccable fashion sense! How unique!

[stenchus_rodentus]

It's about time someone recognizes taste~

[He'll even let this weird...whatever is happening slide.]

It's only those with great refinement that can recognize taste~