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

[anasty]

[ With volume like that, one doesn't have to be close, but Ursula is, looking back from her progress towards the window at the end of the hall. She certainly makes a silhouette. ]

You said it, kiddo.

[fairlypushy]

[Amanda's not entirely sure she's not going crazy when she hears Ursula's voice. But sure enough, when Amanda scrambles to look out into the hallway Ursula is there. That's not - they definitely -]

How - how did you get in here?

[anasty]

The same way as you, I imagine.

[ She gives the girl a little once-over. ]

Give or take some heavy lifting.

[ But the way she phrased that question... ]

Do you know me?

[fairlypushy]

Ursula. You tried to -

[impersonate a human via magic to infiltrate the Kingdom Keepers and gain their trust before straight up just trying to murder them no big.]

- drown us.

[anasty]

Drown you? That doesn't sound like me...

[ It sounds exactly like her, but she's a little thrown. She doesn't recognize this girl at all. Ursula begins to turn, the ends of her tentacles crooking up almost daintily, as if they'd touched something gross. ]

What did you do? Try to pull me out of the sea?

[fairlypushy]

No, you pulled us in. [Well, that's not exactly what happened, but.] It's - you don't remember.

[Amanda had thought it was just because Ursula didn't get a good look at her. She interacted more with Finn than the rest of the Keepers, so it made sense she might not remember the others, but this is different.]

[anasty]

I don't. [ She clasps her hands together, frowning. ] I'm not calling you a liar, you understand, but whoever you met, it wasn't me.

And since it's so obvious that you aren't responsible for my being here, I can assure you I've no qualms with you.

Do you suppose it's possible that we could start over?

[fairlypushy]

[Amanda is hesitant. This is obviously Ursula, who was working with the Overtakers - was among their top ranks - but that was because of . . . because of what? Something she can't remember at the moment. It feels important, but she pushes it aside.]

I - sure, sorry. I'm Amanda. It's nice to meet you.

[anasty]

[ She's worked with worse, all things considered. ]

Amanda, it's relieving to know I'm in the company of someone reasonable and perhaps just as unhappy to be kidnapped as me.

Now, I was on my way to find a window or door that might be persuaded to break. Would you care to accompany me?

[fairlypushy]

. . . Yeah. [This is . . . so weird. She's working with an Overtaker.] I could probably help you with that.

[anasty]

[ She looks her over. ]

Unless you're planning on trying to defenestrate yourself, I'd suggest you find something sturdy or sharp.

[ Yes, she knows she's inviting Amanda to get herself a weapon she might possibly use against Ursula, but the prospect of putting the girl more at ease balances out with the efforts she'd have to take to stop her. ]

[fairlypushy]

I'll be fine. You don't think my door did that by itself, do you?

[She's just saying.]

[anasty]

Fair point. Let's be off, then.

[ Ursula continues down the hall, towards the stairs. ]

Do you know where this "Hollywood" is? So far no one I've met has had the faintest idea.

[fairlypushy]

Do you know where America is?

[She doesn't exactly remember where The Little Mermaid takes place, but she's pretty sure it's not America and she figures that's a safe place to start.]

[anasty]

[ She purses her lips thoughtfully. Most Atlanteans wouldn't know anything about it, but Ursula had more interest in humans than most. Unlike Ariel, she had the resources to better make sense of their artifacts. ]

That's the name for western human 'colonies', isn't it?

[ West from her, anyway. ]