foolishmortals | It's all happened before...

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ahahah don't. cringe. don't flinch. just stay calm.]

Uh, are you a witch, too?

That's right!

[ Good girl! But then, a frown. ]

And an anathema among my fellow sea creatures for that simple fact, I'm afraid.

[ Wistful sigh. It's nothing to do with the fact she's horrible, of course. ]

People do tend to fear what they can't comprehend, in my experience. And considering our arrival, well... it makes me more hesitant to be open about it. After all what if the other guests get it in their minds that we're responsible?

I don't think anyone will think that. If we really were behind this, would we have made it so our magic barely works? [yeah that's our reality now sorry to introduce you to it all casual like this] I couldn't hold a ham sandwich hostage the way I am right now.

You are assuming that most would listen to reason and not doubt your sincerity. Unfortunately, I fear this situation will call forth an emotional response in most.

[ This isn't precisely news to Ursula so much as it is a confirmation of something she already suspected. She could feel her power still resided within her in the same way you might be aware of your own pulse, but a failed attempt at shattering the porthole windows in her room earlier had proved it was just as controllable at the moment.

Now whether or not she was going to be honest about it to anyone else... ]

I'm only advising caution, my dear! I would hate to see another witch be persecuted, especially one as young as you.

[ She frowns delicately, reaching to try and pinch Marnie's chin in a most grandmotherly fashion. ]

Why, you must have only recently started your studies....

I didn't even know I was a witch until recently. [she doesn't know why she's saying this? maybe it's all making her think of the reason why that's so, why her grandmother had to live in halloweentown.] I don't know... Nobody I've met so far seems like the kind to do that.

[well, except kyle. but robots have no place to judge.]

And perhaps they aren't. What do I know? I've only been a witch for a few... [ She taps her fingers against her own thumb, making a physical show of mental math. ] decades.

I don't doubt we're among some good people, Marnie, but fear and anger is transformative of even the best self.

For example, when you first saw me, were you afraid?

[winces, grins sheepishly] More surprised than anything, honestly. It takes a lot to scare me.

And I'll bet that's because you're a smart girl who knows better than to base her opinions off appearances alone!

[ She taps the end of Marnie's nose gently with the tip of her nail, playfully affectionate. ]

But not everyone is that way. When something scares people, sometimes what they rely on - all they can rely on - are their instincts. That doesn't make them a bad person; they're just trying to protect themselves, after all!

And sometimes, well, sometimes that instinct makes things rather messy before you have a chance to bargain with it, if you do. I can't tell you how many times I've been attacked while I was minding my own business because to them I look the part of a monster.

[ She clasps her hands, grave. ]

Sadly, the same could be said of the word 'witch'. Just because you lack power at the moment doesn't mean people won't wonder if you're evil because they've never heard of a good witch.

Does that make sense?

[she considers this, looking incredibly uneasy about it.]

I... think it does? I mean, maybe... [sighs] I don't know. I wish my grandma was here; she would understand this kind of stuff better than I can.

[ Ursula purses her lips sympathetically. ]

A wise woman, no doubt.

But if it's any consolation to you, I'm happy to help with any questions you have in her absence. I'm not usually this much of a downer, I promise.

If you still plan on being open, I truly do hope your audience has an open mind... or at the very least, that I'm close enough to bail you out of trouble. We witches must protect our own.

[she smiles a little.] Yeah, you're right. We do.

[she's sure Agatha would agree with that part, at the very least. even if she's not so sure on everything else.]

Gosh, with you and Merlin here, I'll be way ahead of where I am now by the time I get home! [which is. level 1 out of 100.] Dylan and Sophie will be so jealous!

I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting Merlin yet.

[ Spoiler: it doesn't go well for him when she does. ]

But I'm happy there may be something positive to be gleaned from all this confusion. Are Dylan and Sophie your siblings?

[nods] Yeah, my little brother and sister. I'm the oldest.

Why, it's much the same with me! Except I only have just the one sibling: Morganna.

Believe you me, I can appreciate a healthy sibling rivalry!

[ She chuckles. It's 'healthy' because Ursula always wins. ]

Perhaps your lack of power here means a lack of practical spellwork, but it doesn't mean there's no room for theory. For now, though, I think I've given you enough lectures. No doubt you were on your way to something, hm?

[nods] I was heading to the library, since that's what the note said to do. Might as well learn why we're here, right?

That's very reasonable. You go on ahead, dear, I'll meet you down there. I'm afraid I'd just slow you down while I'm trying to get around on these sea legs.

[ She chuckles softly and steps aside, giving Marnie one last squeeze on her shoulder as she parts from her. ]

It's all happened before...

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